Participants marching to the headquarters of the ruling People Power Party during a rally to demand South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, in Seoul on Dec 9, 2024. - AP
SEOUL: Seoul’s cityscape has transformed into a glittering colour display marrying K-pop and politics, with scores of music fans singing in the streets and waving glow sticks in protest of President Yoon Suk-yeol.
In front of the National Assembly, a young crowd of demonstrators have gathered nightly to light up the sky with flourescent pops of green, pink and white. The colour combinations represent South Korea’s most iconic pop groups, including NCT, EXO, Seventeen, Aespa and more.
The K-pop fans are there for something more sobering than a music festival: the removal of Yoon from his post after his shock declaration of martial law last week. Though the decree was quickly overturned, many younger Koreans were particularly furious at such a draconian move.
Yoon narrowly avoided impeachment last weekend, but protests against him haven’t stopped. Over the past few days, songs have blasted from loud speakers as hundreds of people huddle in the cold outside South Korea’s legislature. Many speak excitedly about how the political rallies have the camaraderie of concerts.
"It feels good to be able to bring out my light stick for an occasion like this,” said Kim Yebin, 24, who was waving hers on Monday (Dec 9) for the girl band Aespa.
"If we can enjoy this moment, I believe we can all keep this rally going without getting tired.”
In one corner of the scrum, a small group of protesters were in a festive spirit. One person wore a snow man costume. Another dressed as Santa Claus danced to music and yelled into a megaphone.
"Are you ready? Don’t be tired and join me, Santa, in making sure Yoon is impeached! Promise me!” The last words were spoken in perfect sync with an old K-pop song that has roughly the same lyrics. (Minus Yoon’s name, of course.)
The atmosphere was in contrast to the solemn marches that dominated Seoul’s streets in 2016, when hundreds of thousands of people massed with candles - or torches - in protest against former president Park Geun-hye. Park stepped down in 2017 after the constitutional court upheld a parliament vote to impeach her.
Though the upbeat flavour of K-pop has camouflaged political turmoil this time around, it hasn’t meant protesters are taking the situation lightly. Kim said she found the latest martial law fiasco so upsetting that she broke into tears when she reached home after one of the rallies.
Public anger against Yoon continues to mount, sending his approval ratings near single digits. The Prosecutors’ Office opened a treason investigation into the president over his declaration of martial law. If he’s eventually found guilty, a process that could take years, he could face life in prison or even death penalty.
Min Boaz, 29, who joined the demonstration on Monday with a glow stick for the girl band Red Velvet, said he won’t stop marching until Yoon steps down.
"It’s amazing to see so many different fan light sticks,” said Min.
"At this rate, I think we will be able to achieve the results that we want to see. I’m definitely going to be here.” - Bloomberg
