民主主義と人権

From September 2025 to January 2026, the LGBTQ+ political participation project RUN/OUT was conducted over four sessions, bringing together a total of 128 participants. Who took part in this project, and how do they perceive political participation? As the pilot program came to a close, we conducted a short survey. Drawing on the survey results and the RUN/OUT experience, we take an exploratory approach to examining how perceptions of LGBTQ+ politics are formed.

With the violation of international law in Venezuela by the US, the hegemonic ambitions of the Trump administration are impossible to ignore. The EU’s hesitant response has weakened the Union at a crucial moment. Where should Europe go from here?

What happens when a quiet observer steps into a global space? A journey from a “small-island mindset” to a more global sensibility. From unexpected moments of solidarity to discovering the power of simple connection, this reflection explores what it means to step beyond familiar borders and join a wider world.

A candid reflection from the Asia Democracy Assembly 2025—on Bangladesh, Japan, and Korea; the “masculinity of the state”; and the courage and solidarity found across Asia’s civil society.

A week in Bangkok offered a powerful glimpse into Asia’s diverse democratic struggles—from performative democracy and migration justice to Gen Z movements and transformative masculinities. Inspired to bring new ideas back to Korea.

The Power of Solidarity through the Film 'The Time of Our Lives'

Where do LGBTQ+ individuals stand in Korea’s political landscape? A groundbreaking project is working to change that.

On December 3, 2024, President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law dealt a profound shock to South Korean democracy. Yet in that moment of crisis, the square came alive once again—and at its center stood the youth. The lights, the flags, and the questions that followed have now been captured in a book. After the Square tells the story of young people who organized themselves to call for President Yoon’s resignation, created spaces for public dialogue, and put democratic values into action.

South Korea has seen has a notable progress in gender and human rights over the past two decades. Yet, in recent years, political polarization, anti-gender backlash, and stalled legislative efforts have complicated the landscape, leading to a fragmented and contested approach to equality and inclusion.

The documentary 'Edhi Alice: REVERSE', which intimately follows the lives of two transgender individuals, moves beyond questions of identity to become a cinematic act of sensing and witnessing existence itself. In a society where even its screening was rejected by some venues, the film confronts us with the very questions our society still chooses to turn away from.

South Korea’s presidential election on 3 June 2025 took place amid intense political upheaval and institutional crisis. Widespread public discontent over corruption scandals, executive-judiciary tensions, and democratic backsliding had dominated the pre-election atmosphere. Kristian Brakel, Director of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung’s East Asia, answered 3 questions.