"Serious Protests Like Festivals" NYT Highlights Satire in Korean Protest Flags

'National Lie-Down-at-Home Alliance' 'National Sea Otters Are Not Eurasian Otters Association' 'Room Corner Pizza Topping Research Society'

After the December 3 emergency martial law incident, the humorous flags that appeared at protests demanding President Yoon Seok-yeol's resignation attracted significant attention from the prominent American daily, The New York Times (NYT).

Various flags appearing at the protest demanding President Yoon Seok-yeol's resignation. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 22nd (local time), NYT published an article titled "Memes, Jokes, and Cats... Koreans Using Parody in Political Protests," focusing on the "parody flags" that appeared in this protest. The article stated, "Koreans are showing that even serious protests demanding a president's resignation can be appealing, optimistic, and festive in atmosphere."

NYT included photos of various flags circulated through social media (SNS), noting, "Some Koreans who took to the streets demanding President Yoon's resignation have found a new way to express their anger through jokes and satire." It further explained, "They waved flags featuring witty messages about cats, sea otters, food, and jokes about having to leave the cozy bed due to the president's martial law declaration."

The article also provided English explanations interpreting the meaning of each flag image attached. The introduced flags included 'Dumpling Labor Union - Gunmandu Union,' 'National Motion Sickness Alliance,' 'Freezer Excavation Team,' 'National Princess Gathering,' 'Overdue Schedule People Alliance,' 'Angry Cat Owner Federation,' and 'National Bald Chick Association.'

The New York Times in the United States introduces various flags that appeared at the protest demanding the resignation of President Yoon Suk-yeol. Photo by The New York Times

NYT explained, "Some of the groups on the flags do not actually exist; they parody real organizations such as labor unions, churches, and schools," adding, "This is an idea to use humor to build solidarity against President Yoon." The article also quoted a citizen holding a flag at the rally saying, "Even if I am not a member of an actual civic group, I wanted to show that I am here as one of the people."

Professor Lee Ki-hoon of Yonsei University's Department of History told NYT, "They want to convey the message that 'even those of us who have no connection to political organizations cannot accept this situation.'" He added, "Whether the protesters realize it or not, although they are angry, they did not become solemn or moralistic," analyzing that "the presence of the flags helped ease the tension."