If the election of Aung San Suu Kyi in parliamentary by-elections in Myanmar on Sunday marks the beginning of a new process in the democratic development in the Southeast Asian country, it indicates the choice of evolution instead of revolution by the opposition leader, who seems to have learned the art of compromise through her long confrontation with the military.

Until the growth of politically conscious and economically sustainable grassroots that are able to provide viable alternatives, the challengers had to seize any opportunity offered by the rulers.

Over the last few decades, the military realized that they could not defy changes forever. After they ensconced themselves in the new inland capital of Naypyidaw, which provided safety from both external and internal subversion, the military junta initiated a series of transitional steps, including the November 2010 elections that established a virtually proxy civilian government.

Yet, what happened afterward surprised the world. Hundreds of political prisoners were freed, peace talks held with ethnic rebels, media restrictions eased, trade unions allowed and dialogue was opened with Suu Kyi, who showed her trust in President Thein Sein, an ex-general. After a year of these reform steps, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a visit to Myanmar to reward the government with a hint of the lifting of economic and diplomatic sanctions.

It is reassuring that the last closed state in Asia, excluding North Korea, is about to end its self-imposed international isolation and gave the outside world hope for democratic advancement and national reconciliation without violence. Almost exclusive economic dependence on China will give way to the opening of trade and investment opportunities to other countries.

Yet, every party involved in this progress needs to be cautious and prudent, even if it now looks unlikely that the clock will be turned back. Suu Kyi, after spending much of the last quarter century under house arrest, must have developed a practical and realistic approach, with which she should seek to guide the aspirations of the people toward political freedom and economic advancement.

In Korea, economic growth paved the way for democratization, with strong civil society pushing authoritarian rulers out of power in stages. It is up to Myanmar’s people to find their own process toward orderly transition toward democratic rule, but we hope they will be able to exhibit great restraint after long, hard struggles.