'Candlelight revolution' marks 1st anniv.

Candlelit rallies calling for former President Park Geun-hye in 2016. / Korea Times file

Some say rift rather shows maturing protest culture

By You Soo-sun

One year after the candlelit rally that ousted former President Park Geun-hye, the public has come to opposing views on how to commemorate the anniversary of its start, slated for Saturday.

For months, they raised their candles in unison at Gwanghwamun Square, the symbolic stage for peaceful demonstrations. This year, however, two separate events will take place — one in Gwanghwamun, and the other on Yeouido.

At the former, hosted by a group of civic organizations which led last year’s demonstrations, around 400 people are expected to participate in a march beginning in Gwanghwamun and ending in front of Cheong Wa Dae.

Another, which is growing traction, will be held on Yeouido as a way of denouncing the National Assembly. This one has been organized and led by members of the public and around 1,000 people are expected to gather.

As the Yeouido event has spread online — initially to boycott the original Gwanghwamun event — many offered to donate money, make posters and bring other items to the commemoration.

Those who initiated this movement argued the presidential residence — although once the focus of public fury — is now occupied by a new president who rose to power as a result of the candlelit revolution. No longer should the candles head toward Cheong Wa Dae as they signify resistance, they argued.

In response, the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, a group involved in the wider alliance that led last year’s demonstrations, said the event is not one of resistance but a celebration of victory.

The rift, however, shows a maturing democratic culture, according to Professor Han Sang-hee at Konkuk University Law School.

“I see it as an inevitable result — last year, various individuals with different yearnings gathered because they had a common and overarching goal of rooting out longstanding evils of society manifested in the former administration,” Han said. “No longer do they have a common enemy — and so, it’s no longer necessary to share space or time to raise their voices.”

Han said the protest movement brought people together in the city center sharing the different individual life experiences and concerns they had. This year’s event is no different, as people have learned to express themselves.

“It’s like a college festival, where on one side people sing and on the other, people drink or dance. They may criticize each other, but they are all part of the festival.”

Professor Shin Se-don at Sookmyung Women’s University echoed this view, but also emphasized the need for both sides to widen their horizons.

“Whether it takes place in front of or inside Cheong Wa Dae does not matter. It is not necessarily a call to take President Moon Jae-in out — but, people should be able to criticize him if needed, so our society can become a fairer place,” Shin said. “The candlelit protests were a revolution — a hope of the people to do away with the old system and make way for the new.”

But it’s a never-ending process that does not come merely by electing a new president, he said.

“Laws, ordinances and moreover the public’s level of consciousness all need improvement if we are to have a society that upholds fairness, and one in which abuse of power no longer exists. And to get there, change must take place not just under Moon, but also under the presidents to come.”