By Hyunsu Yim, Nicoco Chan and Minwoo Park
SEOUL (Reuters) – Whereas South Korean protesters have lengthy used chants, dances and songs, personalised gentle sticks, widespread with Ok-pop followers, have grow to be an efficient new software for demonstrators calling for violence. impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Tens of 1000’s of protesters have braved near-freezing temperatures and gathered exterior the Nationwide Meeting within the capital Seoul since Yoon's failed martial legislation try final week.
“Impeach, impeach. Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol,” protesters chanted to the beat of Ok-pop group aespa's newest techno observe, “Whiplash.”
Movies of synchronized chants and glow stick actions in unison at protests have gone viral on social media, as have flags bearing messages and memes from principally youthful protesters.
“Give us geeks the liberty to solely care about geeky issues,” stated a meme flag carried on a flagpole at Saturday's protest, capturing the temper of younger individuals amid political unrest in deeper and deeper.
One benefit of glow sticks is their sturdiness, stated Kim Do Heon, a Seoul-based music critic.
“It additionally shines very brightly and is available in an easy-to-carry measurement.”
South Koreans are taking part in the lengthy sport, stated Shin Jae-yun, who got here to protest Yoon with a lightweight stick for Ok-pop group TREASURE, as a result of protests are a “very painful act,” however there is no such thing as a has no assure that issues will enhance correctly. far.
“To endure such ache, it’s important to have one thing to understand so that individuals can preserve hope for a very long time, even when it drags on,” Shin stated.
Playlists of widespread Ok-pop protest songs are additionally being shared on on the platform: “Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, chief”. of betrayal!… from people songs to Ok-pop. “
South Korea has a wealthy historical past of protest since democracy took root within the Nineteen Eighties after a sequence of army interventions. Protests for staff' rights, threats from neighboring North Korea and alleged authorities failures have typically turned violent prior to now.
Lee Seul-gi, a 36-year-old fan of Ok-pop group ATEEZ, stated the impeachment protests this time round had grow to be extra accessible.
“Earlier rallies may need been somewhat violent and scary. However the glow sticks and Ok-pop lowered the barrier,” Lee stated.
CANDLE IMPROVEMENT
Till 2016, candles had been current at many protests and performed a central position within the rallies that led to the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.
Park was ousted following a corruption scandal, then imprisoned following the scandal that uncovered corruption networks between the nation's political leaders and conglomerates.
“So many individuals held candles and put paper cups on them and carried them round so that they wouldn't exit. However now the period of glow sticks is right here, not the period of candles,” the music critic stated Kim.
Stephanie Choi, a researcher on the State College of New York at Buffalo, stated glow sticks nonetheless mirror the “energy of solidarity whereas retaining the unique that means of nonviolence.”
As women and men of all ages rally and name on Parliament to question Yoon, younger girls outnumber their male friends on the protests.
Yoon pledged to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality earlier than taking workplace and was an unpopular candidate with feminine voters of their 20s within the 2022 presidential election.
He gained energy in 2022 by the narrowest margin in South Korea's historical past, however his occasion suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary elections earlier this yr.
The Ok-pop trade is notoriously apolitical, as are the lyrics of many Ok-pop songs performed throughout the impeachment protests. In South Korea, celebrities expressing political views are sometimes frowned upon.
However consultants say followers are conscious of the facility of Ok-pop and the underlying messages of feminine empowerment it conveys.
“Ok-pop is a female-dominated area…and their feminist calls for have formed the aesthetics and performances of Ok-pop at present,” Choi stated.
Kim Da-in, a 19-year-old fan of digital idol group Plave, stated the impeachment protests united all Ok-pop fandoms.
“Right here, I really feel like we’re South Korean residents first earlier than being idol followers.”
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