The end of Korea’s candlelight protests
3 reasons to why the candlelight protests are over

CEO of Maccine Korea, Han Seung-bum

It was during the democratization contest in June 1987. The representative of the Minjeong party, Roh Taewoo, suddenly announced the 6.29 declaration, and the people of the uprising applauded that this was the victory of the people. At the moment there was a question that crossed my mind. “What should I do if democratization is realized?”, and for a short term of period “I shouted for overthrow dictatorship, and abolish the constitution protection”, but with a blink of an eye I would be back to my ordinary days and this was indeed discouraging. There was no preparation at all for ‘post democratization’.

In 1991, I participated in the protest for Kang Kyeongdae, the student from Myongji University who died from riot police’s suppression(nationwide citizen countermeasure meeting) to denounce the violent murder of Kang Kyeongdae and to end the public security rule. At the time I was discharged from KATUSA(Korean Augmentation to the United States Army), and was working at a night school as a teacher, and my only goal was to ‘overthrow the system and realize revolution”. On 25th May, same year, enraged university students were shouting “the violent police hit and killed another girl!” in the train station and distributed handouts. At the moment, I thought that “the day of revolution is finally coming!” and my heart was pounding. However, it turned out that the girl, Kim Kuijeong, a student from Sungkyunkwan University actually died from the stampede during a protest, and therefore the protests began to calm down. At the moment I thought “is the last train for revolution?”.

In 29th September, same year, I went to study in Soviet Union, the center of Communism, and I’ve seen the Federal Republic of Soviet fall with my own eyes. As the eastern region of Soviet Union, which was the ideal place for Korean activists, fell it was a significantly shocking and it felt like I lost my purpose of life. The reality of Soviet Union, which was thought to be the Utopia, was actually a disaster. “Socialism that has a man’s face’ is all ‘gibberish’ and Soviet became a place where humanity was destroyed. Anyway, after the fall of Soviet Union, I became a shipwreck with a broken compass heading nowhere. It took a long time to reestablish my purpose of life after falling in such a mess.

In June 1987, the 50’s generation, who led the democratic contest, was sacrificing their passion for last time. However, in social network services(SNS) the 50’s generation is the generation that is being most mocked and criticized. This is because all they did in university was learn ideologies rather than their raising skills in the majors, so they are incompetent. Furthermore, they are free-riders who were able to get employed easily thanks to the golden age from the low 3 (dollar, oil price, interest rate). At the time it felt guilty to study in school libraries, having to listen to the sounds of protests and drums made by other students.

I was deeply shocked after listening to the interview of former minister, Park Cheoleun, who was called the ‘king of 6-Republic’, after contributing somewhat to the democratization contest. It was the comments that 4.13 constitution protection by president Jeon Duhwan, in 1987, was a premise for the 6.29 declaration”. Later on, former minister Park, stated that “the person who proposed the 6.29 declaration was not president Roh Taewoo but president Jeon Duhwan” in the ‘Testimony for the Right History’(Aug. 2005). President Roh Taewoo cleansed his image through the 6.29 declaration and was hence able to win the presidential election. This has been a big disgrace to my pride of the democratization of June. Even if former minister Parks’ words were a bit exaggerated, Korea was actually being controlled by a handful of elites.

In regards to the candlelight protests, it is noisy in the SNS because of Lee Bong Jin, president of Zara Korea, and Kim Yeong Sik, president of Cheonho Food. Despite their explanation, Netizens are threatening that they will carry out boycotts. For most, it is displeasing when listening to entrepreneurs and the people in relation to the current situation. However, they rarely participate in candlelight protests themselves or encourage their acquaintances to participate. These entrepreneurs who have experienced all kinds of events know that it is not the citizens who are the main characters of the candlelight protests. They know that that are those who gain from the candlelight protests, the invisible hand that leads the candlelight protests, and the fact that after the lights are off they would have to come back to the ordinary lives.

The 4th candlelight protest held on the 19th, was significantly different from the 3rd in terms of passion and scale. In the 5th protest which will be held in 26th, many will feel that it is the last ride. Firstly, there is minimal possibility that president Park Geun Hye will resign from her will. Second, some of the pure-hearted participants will turn their backs to the greedy candidates from the opposition part. Thirdly, there was no successful case of a revolution in the winter. Due to these 3 reasons the lights will go off now. To add, ‘Choi Soon-sil Gate’ is a typical form of a ‘great beginning but a weak ending’.

When the candlelight protest was held, I went to Daechidong, the center of academies. Students were studying there fervently as any other time. There are many parents who take their children to the candlelight protest and take pictures to upload on the SNS. The leaders of the opposition party are encouraging the people to participate in the candlelight protest so that participation reaches to 2 million or 3 million. However, have you ever seen the leaders of opposition parties going to candlelight protests with their children and uploading pictures. Their precious children are studying hard in the US or UK. This is the reality of populace. History is made from a small number of elites.

Question: Who is leading Korea today? The ones who were studying in libraries or participating in demonstrations during the Democratization Contest of June?