[somenameforme]

South Korea has a far crazier history [1] than I think most realize. This [2] is the first president of South Korea, installed by the US, and then eventually ferried off into exile in Hawaii by the US after a revolution, leading the 2nd Republic of Korea. That was followed by coups and all other sorts of great things, including 4 acting presidents that did not serve more than 50 days a piece, eventually leading to the 3rd Republic of Korea which was another dictatorship who then had his dictatorial powers codified in the 4th republic. Then he was assassinated and you get the the 5th republic where the dictator's friend was put in power. Then you get the 6th republic in 1987 (!!) and that's the South Korea we're somewhat more familiar with.

Even in modern times, I think most don't realize how wacky Korean politics has been. For instance the president from 2013-2017 (Park Geun-hye, daughter of a former dictator) was involved in some sort of weird cult-like grooming controversy where she was being groomed and controlled by what some media called a 'Korean Rasputin.' She was eventually impeached and imprisoned for corruption/abuse of power, and is now serving decades in prison.

And it seems the current president of South Korea has an approval rating in the 30s. So I have no idea how Koreans view their government, but it's really unlike anything I think that we can compare elsewhere. But I suspect "trust" and "integrity" are not the sort of words that'd be on top.

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_South_Korea#

[2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syngman_Rhee

[sooheon]

> and is now serving decades in prison.

I wish. It's a national tradition to jail and then pardon the president. She's been free for years, and is often kow-towing and gladhanding current administration members.

[AtlasBarfed]

And they are facing the demographic cliff of demographic cliffs...

Although what I suspect will happen is that North Korea will fall apart eventually and South Korea will get a demographic surge from immigrating North Koreans.

[actionfromafar]

Will China allow NK to fall apart?

[AtlasBarfed]

China just wants a geographic buffer zone. If everyone in NK moves to SK, they don't care.

[autoexec]

Would it be worth it for China to prop them up? I get that they're communism buddies or whatever, but what does China get out of it? What does China really need from North Korea?

[skhr0680]

From the Chinese and Russian (Soviet) perspective, letting a few Koreans get oppressed is worth it considering the alternative, a land border with the US

[codedokode]

China can has influence over North Korea rather than it will be US (don't forget that there are two Koreas because USA and USSR both wanted to rule Korea but couldn't win against each other).

[snapcaster]

China doesn't want the US military on their border