The Democracy & Democratization Team conducts comprehensive research on the characteristics and developmental trajectory of South Korean democracy. Since its inception, Korean democracy has experienced numerous upheavals, evolving along a distinctive and often turbulent path. In the latter half of the 20th century, the country underwent compressed processes of state-building and economic development. Although authoritarian rule dominated much of this period, the institutional and societal momentum for democratization was never fully extinguished. Following the democratic transition in 1987, democratic institutions began to take root, laying the foundation for a relatively stable political framework. In recent years, however, concerns over democratic backsliding have grown increasingly acute. In particular, the ongoing constitutional crisis and political turmoil triggered by the declaration of martial law underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of both the historical evolution and the present challenges facing Korean democracy. In this context, the Democracy & Democratization Team seeks to conduct an in-depth and holistic analysis of the unique characteristics, developmental trajectory, institutional foundations, and the underlying culture of South Korean democracy. While conventional scholarship has largely focused on political institutions and voter behavior, we actively incorporate theoretical, historical, and comparative perspectives that have been relatively underexplored. To this end, we adopt a multidisciplinary approach that spans political science, sociology, history, and anthropology, with the goal of developing a more multidimensional and nuanced framework for understanding the dynamics of Korean democracy.