Case Studies
The Cheong Wa Dae Curse: Cross-Examining South Korea's Most Ominous Political Tradition
Nine presidencies. One recurring outcome. Five rival explanations. Since 1987, seven of eight elected South Korean presidents have left office to face prosecution, impeachment, or worse — and the ninth has already said he expects to be next. This case study tests the popular "curse" narrative against the actual legal record, president by president, and lands somewhere messier and more interesting than either "South Korea persecutes its leaders" or "South Korea simply holds them accountable."
