South Korea has a score of 75 out of 100, with 100 representing the least vulnerability in terms of election integrity, on Freedom House’s Election Vulnerability Index, which is based on a selection of key election-related indicators. The score reflects a stable democracy with regular rotations of power through elections and robust political pluralism. However, political rights and civil liberties are undermined by persistent corruption, the underrepresentation of women and citizens of non-Korean ethnicity, and struggles with minority rights and social integration. Internet freedom in South Korea suffers from authorities sometimes blocking or removing online political and social content, government affiliated actors manipulating online content for partisan purposes, and the widespread use of defamation and other laws that carry prison sentences for protected online activities. The country is rated Free in Freedom in the World 2021, with a score of 83 out of 100 with respect to its political rights and civil liberties and Partly Free in Freedom on the Net 2020, with an internet freedom score of 66 out of 100. To learn more about these annual Freedom House assessments, please visit the South Korea country reports in Freedom in the World and Freedom on the Net.

Note: This country received an abbreviated preelection assessment. For more information, please refer to the Election Vulnerability Index data and the annual country reports listed above.