Pictures from Rally on March 1 Independence Movement Day
When I first heard the procession on the street below, I thought it was part of the celebrations for the March 1 Independence Movement Day.
The day had started off with various televised events and speeches to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the declaration of Independence against Japanese colonial rule. (Read more about the day on Yonhap News.)
But this march wasn’t part of the celebration.
It was actually a political rally led by conservatives who were protesting against the leadership of President Moon Jae-in. They don’t support the current soft approach to dealing with North Korea and do support keeping American troops in Korea for security.
The protest march went on for over 2 hours below our window as the protestors paraded past waving Korean and American flags and marching to the beat of drums and slogans blaring from loud speakers.
They marched to various songs too, one to the tune of ‘When Jonny Comes Marching Home’ (with changed lyrics) a song from the American Civil War. Apparently the original American song is about longing for the return of loved ones fighting in the war. But it’s now also the tune to the children’s song The animals went in two by two hurrah hurrah (the elephant and the kangaroo).
I couldn’t catch the Korean lyrics but I was told that one of the lines of the song is ‘Get out Moon Jae-in’ The slogan in hangul on the back of the orange jacket of the man in the picture above follows this theme as it says 문재인 퇴진: Resign Moon Jae-in!
To the right of the picture above there’s a flag with former president Park Gun-hye saluting. She’s currently in prison serving over 30 years for corruption. Her supporters opposed her impeachment from the beginning. I wrote about the impeachment here.
These balloons might look as though they are to celebrate something but the slogan on them says: 탄핵 무효 ‘Impeachment invalid‘ referring to the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.
The parade participants congregated at Gwanghwamun. Despite the yellow dust warnings, protestors were out in force many wearing face masks.
Last year there was a rally held by the conservatives on March 1 too.
The protestors did not agree with the president inviting North Korea to take part in the winter Olympics. And in 2017 there were 2 different Korean flags waved on Independence Movement Day.
I think it is quite scary how across the world, the force of division is on the rise while at the same time the gap between the rich, the ultra rich and the poor widens. I suggest that the two are inter- linked.
🙁
In your opinion, does the majority of the people oppose to the views of the current president?
His approval ratings have dropped to below 50% – which perhaps isn’t that bad. But the general mood seems to be disappointment in the economy and the lack of progress with North Korea.
When I talk to people in Seoul there’s a lot of frustration that things seem to be getting worse – not better! Raising the minimum wage was very controversial and it was one of the hottest debating topics in my English classes! And when it comes to dealing with North Korea, Conservatives and Liberals have such opposing views, it seems impossible to please everyone.
This article sums the situation up:
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2019/01/22/moons-popularity-wanes-as-south-koreas-economy-stalls/