"Reflecting on Silence Over Suppression of Freedom of Expression in the Hall of Learning"
"President Yoon and Key Figures Behind Martial Law Must Step Down"
Three hundred twenty current and former professors of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) issued a declaration urging President Yoon Seok-yeol, who declared martial law, and the key figures behind the situation to step down.
In the declaration released on the 5th, KAIST professors stated, "The unconstitutional actions of the president have caused the nation's long-built prestige and the pride of its people to plummet," and insisted that President Yoon and those who led the martial law must resign.
Although KAIST professors did not issue a statement regarding the incident at the graduation ceremony in February, where a graduate protesting the reduction of research and development budgets was forcibly removed with their mouth covered by a presidential security officer, they responded relatively quickly this time.
The signing professors explained the reason for their statement, saying, "We remained silent even though freedom of expression was suppressed and democratic values were damaged here at this academic hall in February. Now, as such tyranny is directed at the entire nation, we reflect and raise our voices."
At the KAIST graduation ceremony last February, a presidential security service officer is covering the mouth of a graduate who was protesting the reduction of research and development budget.
The signing professors also asserted, "We believe that the pursuit of truth by scientists and the pursuit of justice by democratic citizens are essentially not different."
The professors criticized, "Although the president claimed to appeal with a heart that feels like vomiting blood, how can he fail to understand the suffering of the people whose blood flows backward in despair as the hands of history turn backward?"
They strongly urged, "We strongly call for the resignation of President Yoon Seok-yeol and the related figures who led this situation," and demanded political leaders to "carry out all constitutional procedures necessary for the normalization of the Republic of Korea."
Notably, foreign professor Sebastian Wiederrecht from the Department of Computer Science also joined the statement.
The following is the full text of the KAIST professors' declaration.
On December 3, 2024, the martial law declared by President Yoon Seok-yeol in the middle of the night plunged the Republic of Korea into great shock and confusion. The unconstitutional actions of the president have caused the nation's long-built prestige and the pride of its people to plummet. Although he claimed to appeal with a heart that feels like vomiting blood, how can he fail to understand the suffering of the people whose blood flows backward in despair as the hands of history turn backward?
We believe that the pursuit of truth by scientists and the pursuit of justice by democratic citizens are essentially not different. However, we remained silent even though freedom of expression was suppressed and democratic values were damaged here at this academic hall in February. Now, as such tyranny is directed at the entire nation, we reflect and raise our voices.
We strongly call for the resignation of President Yoon Seok-yeol and the related figures who led this situation. We also demand political leaders to carry out all constitutional procedures necessary for the normalization of the Republic of Korea.
December 5, 2024
All signatories, KAIST Professors
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