When South Koreans took to the streets this month demanding the president’s ouster, some found an unexpected outlet to express their anger. It was just a joke and satire.
They hoisted banners and flags with quirky messages about cats, sea otters and food. They waved and joked that they had to leave their comfortable beds due to President Yoon Seok-yeol’s declaration of martial law. Photos of the flag were widely circulated on social media.
The idea was to use humor to build solidarity against Yoon, who had pledged to fight impeachment over the declaration of martial law on December 3. Some even waved flags parodying non-existent organizations, such as the so-called Dumpling Association. This is the case for real groups such as labor unions, churches, and student clubs.
Video: Youngjin Yoo/New York Times
Photo: Weiyi Cai/The New York Times
Kim Se-rim (28), who was waving the dumpling group flag at a recent protest, said, “I wanted to show that even though we are not actually a civic group, we are here as a member of the people.” She went with her friends. Some groups mentioned other local favorites such as pizza and red bean pastries.
Veteran protester Kwon Oh-hyuk said he first saw such flags appear during protests in 2016 and 2017 that ultimately led to President Park Geun-hye’s ouster. Kwon said satire is part of the spirit of protest in Korea.
He said, “Even when those in power come out with guns and swords, people make fun of serious situations.” “They are not scared.”
Over the past month, protesters have formed a variety of unorthodox groups. Some were self-proclaimed family homes. Another group of people suffered from motion sickness.
Video: Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
Photo: Weiyi Cai/The New York Times
Video: Weiyi Cai/The New York Times
Photo credit: Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
Lee Ki-hoon, a professor of modern Korean history at Yonsei University in Seoul, said he believed the flags of this month’s protests were an expression of the diversity of the people energized by the president’s attempt at military rule.
“They are trying to say, ‘This is unacceptable even for us who have no connection to any political group,’” he said. “‘I’m not part of a political party or anything, but this is outrageous.’ ‘
Some held signs mocking Mr. Yoon, saying that he separated his pets from home and disrupted their daily routine of watching Korean dramas. One group called themselves the Coalition of People Behind Schedule, citing the idea that the appointment schedule should be changed due to the need to protest martial law.
Photo: Weiyi Cai/The New York Times
Photo credit: Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
Of course, there were real and fake animals.
Photo: Weiyi Cai/The New York Times
South Koreans have shown that protests for a serious cause like the ouster of a president can still have an engaging, optimistic and carnival-like tone.
“I don’t know if the protesters realize that, but even if they are angry, it’s not solemn, it’s not heavy, it’s not moral,” Lee said. “The flag had a de-escalating and de-escalating effect.”
On the day that lawmakers passed the impeachment of Mr. Yoon, protesters who were K-pop fans brought light sticks to the rally and danced to pop songs blasting from the speakers. Lee Jeong-min (31), a fan of Big Bang, said, “It’s a serious day, but I hope you can enjoy it in a good mood.”
Video: Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
