Marathon, Rock Festival, and the Plaza
Choose one of two: 'Impeach Yoon Suk-yeol!'
Pick just one: 'Impeach Yoon Suk-yeol!'
⟨TWICE - yes or yes⟩
Yesterday was March 8th, International Women's Day, and the day the incumbent president, who had been detained at Seoul Detention Center, was released.
Since the emergency martial law declaration on December 3, 2024, many stories unfolded in the plaza. Prepaid meals, food trucks, heated buses, light stick rallies, K-POP gatherings, unique personal flags, people blocking hate speech… Though I knew of all these stories, I never once went to the plaza.
After failing to enter Yeouido due to the massive crowds on the day the first impeachment motion was proposed—when I met an acquaintance there to join the rally—I kept putting it off for various reasons. Because I felt unwell with a cold, because I had other commitments, because I was too exhausted from working weekdays and wanted to rest on weekends. Yet, I always wanted to step out into the square. Because I remembered how refreshing it felt walking down the controlled Jongno streets during the 2016 impeachment rallies.
Walking through that vast plaza, singing "The Republic of Korea is a democratic republic" – the song version of Article 1 of the Constitution – made me feel every fiber of my being that the Constitution's words were true: the sovereignty of the Republic of Korea resides in the people, and all power emanates from the people. That's why I loved the plaza.
Yesterday, the square was packed with an enormous crowd stretching from Anguk Station, past Gwanghwamun, all the way to Gyeongbokgung Station. Before sunset, countless flags were visible under the blue sky. Perhaps because flags in the middle obstructed the view, the flag bearers gathered in a separate area. Seeing them gathered in one space, holding their flags and waiting, then waving them together when a speech they needed to support came on, gave me a sense of déjà vu.
This is totally a rock festival, right? Though honestly, there seemed to be about a hundred times more flags than at a rock festival. The solemn determination of the flag bearers holding them, the comical content on the flags in contrast, the sight of flags fluttering in response to the situation. It made me wonder if the folks who go to Pentaport, Let's Rock, or Burack in the summer become rally flag-wavers in the winter. It'd be fun to take all those flags to a summer rock festival.
Speeches continued on stage. Many speakers addressed feminist issues in honor of March 8th Women's Day. There was also a moment when several women took the stage to read the ⟨March 8th Women's 10,000-Person Declaration for Overcoming Civil Strife and Restoring Democracy⟩. The feeling of so many people cheering, supporting, and standing together during that time seemed to heal the helplessness I felt when Yoon Suk-yeol was first elected.
> Democracy that turns its back on women in the square is no democracy. Democracy that ignores women's suffering is no democracy. Echoing the cry of 1950s women activists, "He who tramples his wife tramples his country!", we in 2025 declare: "He who tramples women tramples his country!"
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> The politics of Yoon Suk-yeol, the ringleader of the insurrection who sparked civil war through unconstitutional martial law and a loyalist coup, stem from anti-women politics epitomized by his outrageous claim that "there is no structural sexism."
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> Therefore, Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation is the resignation of anti-women politics. The restoration of democracy is the return of gender-equality politics.
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> From the ⟨March 8 Declaration of 10,000 Women for Overcoming Civil War and Restoring Democracy⟩
> Full text link
Before we knew it, the sun had set and the march began. Starting in front of Gwanghwamun, it passed by Anguk Station and Jogye Temple, turned the corner at Jonggak, and continued to Jongno 3-ga. Within the continuous procession, people chanted slogans like 'Impeach Yoon Suk-yeol,' waved light sticks to the music blaring from trucks, or shouted slogans. Brazilian percussion ensemble Horay and singing groups performed throughout the streets.
Wait, this is a marathon, right? When you run a marathon, there are dance performances, singing performances, and musical performances by people cheering along the streets. Yeah, this is a marathon. A marathon to reclaim our democracy. It won't happen quickly, so we must all pool our strength, cheer each other on, and run for the long haul. I thought this as I walked to the lively beat of the percussion.
Around Jongno, I saw people marching in front of each truck. Wait, this is a queer parade, right? Each group seemed slightly different. Some trucks gathered supporters of specific political parties, while others didn't. After walking for a while, I joined the crowd in front of the truck at the very back, filled with college students. It was fun and exciting again. Walking alongside friends who looked at least ten years younger than me, shouting in front of the truck blasting a mix of protest songs and K-pop, we headed back to Gwanghwamun.
After returning to Gwanghwamun, various songs played until everyone gathered. People waved flags in sharp rhythm to Koyote's 'Our Dream' and DAY6's 'Happy'—songs perfectly suited for the day the detention order was lifted.
> Though loneliness and fear weigh us down, we never turn away
> For the boundless hope of the vast ocean calls to us
> Though fierce winds and towering waves block our path, we're never afraid
> Countless trials stretching endlessly ahead are for a brighter tomorrow
> Koyote - Our Dream
> MAY I BE HAPPY I want to smile every day I want to be free of worry
> Someone, please tell me the answer SO HELP ME I'm about to collapse Tears are welling up
> So please, please, please TELL ME IT'S OKAY TO BE HAPPY
> DAY6 - HAPPY
I headed home around 8:30, but the emergency action group organizing the rally said they'd continue their hunger strike until Yoon Suk-yeol is impeached. I donated a small amount to show my support. My step count showed I walked 18,000 steps. My legs hurt, but it was a time filled with the coolness of the plaza. In just half a day, I enjoyed a marathon, a rock festival, a queer parade, and a rally. Now I just wait for next week's impeachment. So many people want Yoon Suk-yeol impeached, and all power in the Republic of Korea comes from the people, right? I hope the efforts of everyone who came to the plaza for over three months to defend democracy will be rewarded with a proper ruling from the Constitutional Court.