South Korea has charmed the world with "soft power" such as K-Pop. But the country and its citizens have just shown their democracy is even more inspiring.
Parliament voting down the martial law order and launching an impeachment bid against President Yoon Suk-Yeol for trying to impose martial law, made countries around the world see the power of the parliamentary system.
What is most inspiring is the South Korean people showing their faith in democracy. The whole country united when the authoritarian president tried to stifle democracy. People held peaceful protests against the lame-duck president and the armed forces for trying to impose martial law.
One country that could take note of South Korea's democracy is Thailand where democratic norms are often undermined by military coups.
This week, a Pheu Thai lawmaker submitted a bill to amend the Defence Ministry Act for public opinion until Jan 1, with the hope it will stop future coups.
Essentially, it aims to reduce the ability of the top brass to appoint generals and give cabinet ministers and the prime minister the final say. The bill also allows for subordinates to disobey a commander's order to violate the constitution and launch a coup d'etat.
The attempt by the Pheu Thai Party is praiseworthy. Despite its impracticality, the amendment serves as an iconic attempt by Thai lawmakers to use parliamentary processes and laws to counter the military. Of course, it drew mixed reactions over its practicality and even received discouraging comments.
The harshest came from Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who said the amendment would not solve the problem at its core. "Whatever law is enacted, if a coup takes place, the first thing for the coup makers is to tear up the constitution."
Mr Anutin, who served in the junta government, advises politicians to inspire faith in democratic institutions by carrying out their duties with honesty and integrity.
"Coups can be avoided if certain conditions do not occur," he said.
His comment is worrying. It only raises the question of how our Interior Minister and his party's lawmakers will react in the event of a coup. Is he going to push back or just compromise, like he has always done?
While his remarks reflect an archaic and authoritarian receptive mindset, they deserve our ears.
The amendment of the Defence Ministry Act will make pro-democracy and anti-military groups happy, but it will not do much to prevent a coup.
Lawmakers must strive to make the armed forces more professional and the military an honourable profession by inspecting and auditing procurement, workplaces and human rights, not just having the government and elected politicians exert more control.
To end coups, lawmakers need to make people have faith in democratic institutes again.
So, instead of trying to control promotion in the armed forces, politicians -- especially those in the coalition -- can show they follow transparent and respectable processes to put the right people into cabinet and Government House.
Instead of devoting all energy and time to "undo" the junta-sponsored charter or spending years drafting an amnesty law, parliament can bring the whole country together by fighting against all corruption, improving public policy and ending bipartisanship. This is the first step in fighting against coups.