SEOUL -- Consensus is growing in the family of democratic nations that democratic civic education constitutes a pillar of democracy. I use the term "democratic civic education" because we know there exist less benevolent intentions behind "political education" than the promotion of democratic principles and the encouragement of citizens' participation in the political process.

One does not need to go far to find this: North Korea practices lifelong political indoctrination with the aim of perpetuating its dictatorial rule. In South Korea's dark age of authoritarianism, too, political education was a tool in the hands of the rulers to uphold their illiberal reign. It therefore comes as no surprise that to this day South Koreans insist on using the attribute "democratic" if they refer to what in the democratic world is simply known as civic education.

Democratic civic education is a lifelong process that starts in school and continues after primary, secondary and, in some cases, tertiary education. A special target-group of civic educators consists of individuals who have left the regular educational systems. Democratic civic education, to be effective, should be conceived as a never-ending process.