The Asian Solidarity Movement in Korean Civil Society: Observations on Thirty Years of Development

“Asian solidarity movement” has been a catchphrase for the international activities of Korean civil society for three decades. The activism of Korean civil society started to become tangible in the early 1990s, mainly because of Korea’s democratization and globalization. This article begins by describing the origin, growth, and diversification of this solidarity movement. It then emphasizes recent changes that can be observed in two key areas, namely, issues and participation. Unlike in earlier phases of the movement, when activists focused mainly on issues directly relevant to Korea, today’s activism is more concerned with universal values. It also attracts citizens beyond activists and intellectuals.