South Korea’s political upheaval: The background and implications of recent developments

The historical backdrop: from colonialism to comprador capitalism The genesis of South Korea’s modern political economy lies in imperialism. During Japanese colonial rule (1910–45), Korea was forcibly integrated into the capitalist world system as a supplier of cheap labor, raw materials, and a launching pad for further expansion by imperial Japan, while its indigenous opposition movements were brutally suppressed. After Japan’s defeat in 1945, the United States led the divisio