Topic: Legitimacy of Government during Popular Uprising
Country: South Korea
Delegate Name: Yasmeen Farran
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All South Korea position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
The Republic of Korea sees that a country’s government is not legitimate if more than two thirds of the people show distaste, and rebellion against their government. Korea feels it is important for the UN to help the people of other countries have their voices heard if they are being ignored.
After its own uprisings in the 1960s, Korea reformed its own laws on justice. Korea now feels as a government it is its duty to try and destroy social injustices. The preamble of Korea’s constitution shows this promise, “…upholding the cause of the Provisional Republic of Korea Government born of the March First Independence Movement of 1919 and the democratic ideals of the April Nineteenth Uprising of 1960 against injustice, having assumed the mission … to destroy all social vices and injustice…”
Korea answered the pleas of its people. It established a new democratic government and reconstructed its constitution. Many other countries cannot reconstruct their own government without help from the outside. This can cause confusion on who the people’s leader is, which in turn, can cause trouble in a country that cannot always be controlled.
At this point, the international community can step in by establishing a National Transitional Council. This has been established in Libya. It gives the country a goal and vision to follow. The council serves as a temporary government for people to turn to. They have released many statements to make it clear this is only temporary. If this is established in other countries it can help prevent a power hungry leader from stepping to the top after the people have worked to rise above their previous power hungry government. This has happened in Iraq. Saddam Hussein took over power after a revolution, this lead the country to have problems in the future. Now, the country cannot seem to rise back up to a stable government. Now, it is uncertain what the country wants and the goals that the new government should have.
A more recent problem has occurred in the rebuilding of Egypt’s government. A military government has established itself since the uprisings earlier this year. This military government has not satisfied the people who worked so hard to overthrow the previous government. Now, the military leader, Scaf, has a great amount of power. If in three months, a new constitution is not drawn up and approved by him, he can appoint his own committee to write it. This makes the people upset with the direction their country has taken. The country has not changed from the bad position it was previously in. The aftermath of the uprising may have been more successful if an Egypt Transitional Council was established.
The UN should take up establishing this council and watching over it. The UN could look over this council to help make sure the countries best interests stay in mind. Korea would be supportive with the council and work to reach a solution. Korea would help the UN maintain this council.
