Seoul – President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law on December 3, triggering demonstrations involving tens of thousands of people across the country. However, despite the high turnout, the rally remained peaceful with no reports of violence or tension.
The crowd is very diverse, ranging from teenagers to families with young children to pet owners with dogs. Participants interviewed by The Korea Herald unanimously said they had no concerns about safety and had not witnessed any incidents.
One of the couples brought their seven-year-old daughter and four-year-old son to the Dec. 11 rally, three days before parliament voted to impeach Yoon. Parents don’t seem concerned about any risks.
“We’re not worried because the rally feels more like a festival,” said the father, who requested anonymity. “I attended rallies during the Park Geun-hye and Cho Kook scandals and never felt unsafe. The organizers always managed the crowds well and everything was well organized.
Protests calling for the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye took place in late 2016 and early 2017, with millions of participants calling for her resignation amid a corruption scandal. Likewise, the 2019 Cao demonstrations drew large crowds for and against the controversial former attorney general amid allegations of misconduct.
High school students Kim Yeon-jung and Seo Soo-min, who had just completed their college entrance examinations, entered the competition with handmade slogans.
“We decided to come because news reports showed that the rally here was well organized and safe,” Xu said.
“Even my mom told me to ‘take care’ and not show any concern,” Kim said. She attended a Park Geun-hye impeachment rally with her parents when she was still in elementary school. “I never felt unsafe.”
Yin Miner, a 24-year-old French literature student, attended the rally with her friends. They giggled and held up glow sticks and protest signs.
“I wanted to come to this rally because when I was a (high school) student, I regretted missing out on the opportunity to attend during Park Geun-hye’s impeachment. This regret has stayed with me,” she said. “This news shows that a lot of young women like me are safely competing, so I’m confident about joining.”
Kim Myung-ha, a snack vendor who has witnessed the demonstrations up close for nearly 20 years, attested to their peaceful nature. At a recent rally, she sold “odeng” (a fish cake in hot soup) to participants who braved the cold near the National Assembly.
“This was the most crowded rally I’ve ever seen. During the Gwanghwamun Park Geun-hye protests, they covered a larger area, but Yeouido felt crowded because it was smaller,” she said, referring to the Dec. 7 (the day of the first impeachment vote).
“Although there were many people, everyone was in good order. Some protesters even thanked me for coming here and picked up the garbage around my stall. I am not worried about violence. What I am really worried about is the increase in the price of fish cakes.
firm belief in democracy
Experts attribute the sense of security at these protests to a widespread and deep-seated belief in democracy.
“If people think democracy is fragile, they may think anything can happen. In a dictatorship, everything is arbitrary and unpredictable,” said Shin Yool, a political science professor at Myongji University.
“But when people have strong faith in democracy, they are confident that they will not be arrested for acting within their rights. In a democracy, the rule of law is upheld.
“In a democracy, people voluntarily refrain from violent acts. They understand that overly aggressive behavior will invite social criticism and undermine their legitimacy,” he added.
Protests in South Korea have not always been peaceful.
The last time martial law was declared was in the 1980s, during the military regime of Quan Huan, police brutally suppressed citizens, many of them students. Within 10 days, 154 people were killed, 70 missing, and 1,628 injured, leaving a lasting impact across the country.
Shin noted that the restrained response of the police and military during the declaration of martial law on December 3 reflected this change in belief.
From the 2002 World Cup to the 2016 Candlelight Vigil
Kim Baek-young, a professor of sociology at Seoul National University, pointed out that the 2002 FIFA World Cup was a turning point for peaceful mass gatherings.
“At that time, large public gatherings had strong political overtones,” he said. “The World Cup is the first event where people from all walks of life can safely come together to celebrate.”
During the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, an estimated 21.93 million people—equivalent to 47% of South Korea’s population—attended seven street events to support the South Korean national team. Police reported no violence, disturbances or security incidents.
In 2002, a police official told Yonhap news agency that even after a 1-0 defeat to Germany, the crowd maintained an orderly atmosphere and chanted “It doesn’t matter” in unison.
“This culture of peaceful mass gatherings was evident during Park Geun-hye’s impeachment and continues to this day,” Kim said. “This rally was easier and even more fun than the ones during Park Geun-hye’s impeachment because young participants creatively shared their experiences on social media, encouraging others to join in.”
