Condemnation Statements and Protest Posters Emerge at Each University
Anger and Condemnation Continue on Online Communities
Voices criticizing President Yoon Suk-yeol over the emergency martial law declared for the first time in 44 years are spreading across university campuses nationwide. Various campuses, including those in the Seoul metropolitan area, have been covered with students' posters and professors' political statements. Calls for the president's resignation are expected to spread to even more universities.
On the 4th, Seoul National University’s student newspaper, Daehak Sinmun, published an editorial urging President Yoon to step down. They also posted an editorial titled "President Yoon Suk-yeol, who declared anti-state emergency martial law, resign immediately" on their Instagram account.
On the afternoon of the 4th, a large poster criticizing the government by a university student group was posted at the entrance of the College of Humanities, Kyungpook National University, Buk-gu, Daegu. Photo by Yonhap News
They stated, "This declaration of emergency martial law is a grave tragedy that decisively damages South Korea’s liberal democracy, alongside the previously 'communication-blocked' governance," and condemned, "President Yoon has already abandoned the state and constitutional duties clearly stipulated in the Constitution." They continued, "The president, trampling on popular sovereignty and repeatedly playing the 'anti-state forces' card through the martial law declaration, must take responsibility for the current situation and resign immediately." The Seoul National University Student Council also posted a statement titled "Condemning Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of emergency martial law" on their Instagram account at 2 p.m. that day.
Not only Seoul National University but also members of Yonsei University, Korea University, Ewha Womans University, Dongguk University, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Kyungpook National University, and others condemned the "emergency martial law" through political statements. At Korea University, where about 500 students, professors, and researchers participated, they expressed, "We are outraged at Yoon Suk-yeol and his group who made our young children, who serve honorably for national security, point guns at the people. As intellectuals who failed to prevent this absurd situation, we feel ashamed and devastated," and urged, "Immediately suspend and impeach Yoon Suk-yeol, who has schemed to destroy the democratic republic of Korea."
About 100 Dongguk University students also issued a political statement saying, "We witnessed the government immediately declare emergency martial law as its approval ratings became precarious, and saw military boots storming to trample the National Assembly," and added, "President Yoon, who was elected by shouting fairness and common sense, should step down immediately for a society where fairness and common sense prevail."
The Ewha Womans University Political Statement Preparation Committee also released an urgent statement that day, lamenting, "Citizens who had to face the nightmare of the past again due to the internal rebellion caused by President Yoon Suk-yeol, especially the victims of the Gwangju Uprising who lost their lives to martial law troops’ guns and blades, the fighters whose basic rights were trampled by the democratization movement, and many ordinary citizens deprived of the freedoms of press, assembly, and association that are natural in a democratic society, are deeply despairing over this unrealistic situation where we must vividly share the pain considered a relic of a bygone era." Meanwhile, movements condemning the martial law situation are spreading not only in the Seoul metropolitan area but also in university campuses across Daejeon, Gangwon, Jeju, Daegu, and other regions nationwide. Additionally, political statements and criticisms of the current government continue mainly through various online communities.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
