As South Korea’s martial law protests entered a new era, a surprising figure emerged at the forefront: women. With glow sticks in hand and K-pop anthems on their lips, these young women took to the streets to challenge the nation’s military and demand change.
Women at the Frontline of South Korea’s Martial Law Protests
South Korea has a long history of protests turning violent, but the recent anti-martial law demonstrations were different. Instead of the usual clashes with riot shields and Molotov cocktails, the crowds waved glow sticks and sang K-pop favorites throughout the night.
On December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, prompting citizens to confront the nation’s military outside the National Assembly. The scene was unexpected, but it quickly became clear that something new was taking place. Cameras panning across the protesting crowds gathering outside the parliament and Gwanghwamun Square showed there were many women at the forefront.
Estimates suggest that 40% of the demonstrators were women in the late teens to 40s age group. Analysts say this emerging generation may be ready to play a bigger part in setting the nation’s agenda. Historically, women have been excluded from political discourse, with only 17.1% of National Assembly members being women.
Hyobin Lee, an adjunct professor of politics and ethics at Chungnam National University, believes that this new generation of South Korean women has had enough of being second-class citizens. She says that conservative politicians deliberately fuelled gender divisions for electoral gains, which played into the opposition Democratic Party‘s hands.
The protests against martial law appeared to carry over from the April parliamentary elections, where Yoon’s People Power Party fared badly. Women took to the streets to support the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol, while younger men in their 20s and 30s drove Yoon’s May 2022 presidential victory.
Yoon appealed to a wave of anti-feminism during his campaign, pledging to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. His stance resonated with men left alienated by South Korea’s apparent embrace of gender equality. However, this support has now collapsed across all age groups, leaving resentment between the genders.
The gap between men and women in this age group remains significant. Many women did not support Yoon in the presidential election, but there is a dislike between men and women that goes back years. Culturally, men have been more publicly active in South Korean society, competing against other men for jobs. As women enter the workforce at an increasing rate, this competition has become more intense.
Meanwhile, professor Lee believes that this new generation of South Korean women have discovered self-belief, which means they will not be willing to revert to conservatives’ expectations in the future. They see protesting as a tool for self-expression, rather than just a struggle. With their newfound confidence, there is significant potential for greater female participation and representation.
The younger generation grew up without experiencing overt gender discrimination and are accustomed to expressing themselves. If this generation continues to grow and assert their voices, it will be a lasting change. Women have always contributed to society from behind the scenes, but now they are taking center stage in the public eye.
