*NOTE. This episode was recorded in January, 2025

The first episode of Season 4 features three Korean university students—Yebin, Yoosun, and Junseo—who participated in protests following President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024. Initially, the students were shocked by the unprecedented military presence, describing the scene as "chaotic" and "unrealistic." Throughout the conversation, they explain their backgrounds in activism, ranging from labor rights to feminism and LGBTQ+ advocacy. They attribute the current crisis not only to Yoon's "incapability as a leader" but also to fundamental flaws in South Korea's constitutional system, particularly the "five-year imperial presidency."

Furthermore, they critically assess South Korea's education system, noting its failure to adequately teach civic engagement and democratic values. Despite this, they acknowledge how history lessons about past resistance movements have inspired current protests.

Looking ahead, the students express concern about growing political polarization but remain cautiously optimistic. They emphasize the importance of constitutional reform, stronger civic education, and continued solidarity among diverse groups. Most importantly, they stress that democracy requires constant vigilance, noting that "suspending Yoon from his duty does not automatically restore democracy."

To young people around the world facing the rise of far-right movements, Korean youth emphasize the importance of solidarity and coalition-building. As Junseo points out, "We need to have coalition and solidarity under the ideas that we think are important, like equality, peace or antiwar." Moreover, they stress that democracy requires constant vigilance, as Yoosun notes, "Citizens must maintain their views and keep watching." In essence, the democratic crisis is not someone else's problem—it requires collective action across generations and borders to protect and strengthen democratic values worldwide.

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The special 2024 review episode of the Conversations4Citizenship podcast takes a deep dive into a year marked by turbulence and inspiration, showcasing the resilience of global citizenship in the face of immense challenges. Hosted by Dr. Adam Peter Lang and Dr. Stella Micheong Cheong, the episode reflects on pivotal events such as elections in over half the world, revolutions in Bangladesh and Syria, ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, democratic protests in South Korea, and the evolving role of AI governance in peacebuilding. The hosts reaffirm the podcast’s mission to foster understanding and dialogue amidst an ever-changing geopolitical landscape.

The episode revisits highlights from Season 3, which tackled pressing issues like misinformation, inequality, civic engagement, youth activism, and creative research methods. Notable discussions included "critical harmony" in education, technology’s potential for peacebuilding, and strategies for navigating democratic resistance. These conversations featured distinguished experts who brought fresh insights into the challenges of our time.

Looking ahead to 2025, Season 4 promises an exciting shift in focus. The podcast will spotlight activists and practitioners working on the frontlines of social change, amplifying voices from diverse contexts. To enhance global dialogue, a new interactive website will also be launched, encouraging deeper engagement with listeners worldwide.

As they close the episode, the hosts share a hopeful message for justice and harmony in the coming year. Now reaching listeners in 71 countries, Conversations4Citizenship Podcast has solidified its place as a leading platform for citizenship and human rights education—an essential resource for navigating today’s complex world.

Contact Conversations4citizenship

• Tweet us @c4c_ed and @stellarcheong
• Email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.com
• Text us on WhatsApp : +82 1098421801
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In the last episode of season 3, Dr. Tatsushi Arai, an associate professor in peace and conflict studies at Kent State University, joins the Conversations4Citizenship podcast to discuss his extensive work in conflict resolution, focusing on the Asia Pacific region. He recounts his experiences, including a pivotal visit to Hiroshima and his time in Rwanda post-genocide, which shaped his career in peacebuilding. Dr. Arai explores the complexities of resolving conflicts in Asia Pacific due to its religious diversity and modern identity constructs. He advocates for peacebuilding education that fosters equity, harmony, and conflict resolution skills through dialog and experiential learning. Particularly, he presented innovative methodologies like "Walk-Through History," which fosters empathy by exploring diverse historical narratives, as seen in his work on Taiwan-China relations.

Highlighting projects like the Ubuntu Center for Peace in Rwanda, he underscores the role of local cultural practices in healing and reconciliation. Dr. Arai also examines how digital technology, particularly AI, influences global peace efforts by enhancing data analysis and connectivity but also warns of its potential dangers.

Additionally, he emphasized dialogue and experiential learning as core principles of peace education. Dr. Arai's ongoing research includes theories of functional coexistence for sustained negative peace and mediated practices to address conflicts lacking traditional mediation structures.

This episode is hosted by Dr. Stella Cheong. Please subscribe to the podcast through Apple, Google, Spotify, or Amazon Music. You may also follow @c4c_ed on Twitter. We look forward to hearing your feedback. If you would like to explore participating in our podcast and submit your blog post to the C4C, do not hesitate to reach out through the online participation form or email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.com

• Further Reading List

1. Arai, T. and M. Tadevosyan, eds. forthcoming 2025. Functional Coexistence in Socio-political Conflict: Enabling Social Change Across Decades. London: Routledge. (Video abstract)
2. Arai, T. 2023. Engaging Conflict History and Memory Across the Taiwan Strait: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Conflict Timelines from Interactive Conflict Resolution (ICR) Dialogues. Negotiation Journal.
3. Arai, T. 2022. Functional Coexistence in Intractable Conflict: A Decades-Long View of Conflict Intervention. Peace and Change 47: 1-34.
4. Arai, T and J.B. Niyonzima. 2019. Learning Together to Heal: Toward an Integrated Practice of Transpersonal Psychology, Experiential Learning, and Neuroscience for Collective Healing. Peace and Conflict Studies 26 (2).

Contact Conversations4citizenship

• Tweet us @c4c_ed and @stellarcheong
• Email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.com
• Text us on WhatsApp : +82 1098421801
• Submit your work us at http://www.conversations4citizenship.com
• You can now follow the Conversations4Citizenship on Bluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.social

Thanks for listening and keeping Conversations4Citizenship podcasting!