Authoritarian Echoes, Democratic Victories: Bruce Cumings on Korean Democracy; An Interview with Bruce Cumings
Synne Norseth
Bruce Cumings is Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago, where he held the Gustavus F. and Ann M. Swift Distinguished Service Professorship of History from 1987 until his retirement in 2022. His acclaimed two-volume work, “The Origins of the Korean War,” challenged established narratives about the Korean War, and fundamentally reshaped scholarly understanding of the region. Cumings is also the author of several other influential books, including “Korea’s Place in the Sun: A Modern History,” “North Korea: Another Country,” and “The Korean War.” The interview, conducted by Synne Norseth on April 9, 2025, explores the trajectory of Korean democracy, from the regime of Park Chung-hee to the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol.
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