December 3, 2024, South Korea has been caught up in martial law and impeachment talks. She was so shocked by the unexpected martial law announcement that she participated twice in one of the protest rallies. Many friendly figures were difficult to see as protesters: a grandmother knitting, an elementary school child holding her mother’s hand, and young students worrying about their final exams.
The most noticeable among them were young women in their 20s and 30s. Unlike her, ready to leave after seeing the impeachment results, they were ready to sit down and stay for a long time. The media paid attention to them. They published articles about how they became the collective subject of the rally and how they stood tall as proud political subjects.
During the last presidential election, the young leader of the People Power Party was at the forefront of ‘gender division’. He did not stop there but also divided minorities such as the disabled and ordinary citizens. In a situation where gender conflict and human rights violations against minorities were already surfacing, this strategy exploded gender conflict. It was a trigger for spreading discrimination and exclusion against minorities.
Paradoxically, ‘gender division’ must have acted as a trigger that aroused the collective consciousness of young women. In addition, the ability to quickly respond to issues requiring action and unite while utilizing the Internet community as a forum for discussion and public opinion and empathizing with minorities must have made the young women stand as a strong collective subject in the impeachment situation.
However, what is more noteworthy is where their actions are headed. What is clear is their firm will to protect democracy and the democratic republic. They are actively demonstrating their strong will to live in the democratic republic. This was unimaginable in the past. They are coming together and raising their voices, regardless of the cold and expenditure of time, to confront the situation where democracy, which we have taken for granted, is undermined.
When she sees them, she feels relieved that Korean democracy will be preserved no matter what difficulties we face in the future. I am sorry and grateful. I am glad that a ‘new’ collective entity that will protect the democratic republic has been born. It gives me hope that Korean society will be okay in the future.
Another place where the actions of young women are headed is solidarity with minorities and the socially disadvantaged. They empathize with and act in solidarity with various minorities, such as the disabled, farmers, immigrants, sexual minorities, and animals. They stand up against political power that discriminates against and excludes the socially disadvantaged and minorities. Social welfare researchers like me have many opportunities to encounter the socially needy, and we analyze and criticize policies and systems related to them and suggest alternatives.
However, these alternatives are weak in the face of the decisions of government officials and politicians. The socially disadvantaged and minorities, when they organize and raise their voices, they are equally powerless. However, if a civic group entity sympathizes with the needs of the socially disadvantaged and minorities and works with them, the story is different. It is the basis for young women to become a source of hope for the socially disadvantaged and minorities.
