Ordinances are legislation of Gyeonggido and they can improve residents’ life. Ordinances can be enacted on assembly members’ motions, Gyeonggido government’s proposal, or residents’ petitions. Residents’ petition, above all, are the essence of participatory democracy and the ‘School Meal Ordinance’ of 2004 is a good example.
Democracy and Suffrage in Korea’s History
Examples of democracy in Korean history include Hwabaek council of aristocrats in the Silla Dynasty, Jipgangso organized by the Donghak Peasant army in 1894, and the Peoples’ Joint Association created by the Independence Club in 1898. Recent example is the candlelight vigil. Over 10 million people took to the street with a candlelight in their hands for six months to impeach the president for causing national chaos by abusing power and to protect democracy. It was a real-life example of the statement in Article 1(2) of the Constitution that goes ‘The sovereignty of the Republic of Korea shall reside in the people, and all state authority shall emanate from the people.’
