"liberal democracy"

[James A. Landau <JJJRLandau@netscape.com>]

from a news story on Netscape News, discussing the possibility of a re-united Korea:

http://channels.isp.netscape.com/news/story.jsp?floc=FF-APO-+&idq=/ff/story/1001%2F20120104%2F4710.htm&sc=+

"South Korea and its U.S. ally would likely balk at anything other than a Korea that's a liberal democracy, or at least moving in that direction."

My problem: what is meant by "liberal" in the phrase "liberal democracy"?

Is there such a thing as a "conservative democracy"?  If such a beastie exists, would the US be happy with a conservative democracy in Korea?

Would "illiberal democracy" be an oxymoron?

Etc. etc.

     - Jim Landau (not partisan, merely baffled)

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