Escalating Tensions: South Korea's President Yoon Faces Impeachment Controversy on University Campuses
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Tensions have escalated at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, where students and alumni clashed over the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The divide between supporters and detractors of Yoon highlights a growing political rift among younger generations, transforming university campuses into battlegrounds for differing ideologies.
Key Takeaways
- The impeachment of President Yoon has led to significant political polarization among university students in South Korea.
- Pro-Yoon activists are increasingly visible on campuses, challenging the dominance of anti-Yoon sentiments.
- The clash at Ewha Womans University illustrates the growing unrest and division within the country.
- Experts warn about the implications of external political influences on educational institutions.
- Historical memories of martial law evoke strong reactions among older alumni regarding current events.
Seoul, March 3 (NationPress) Approximately two dozen students, alumni, and others convened at Ewha Womans University in Seoul last week, denouncing the National Assembly's impeachment of South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol as "invalid," only to face another group of students hosting an on-campus rally advocating for Yoon's removal simultaneously.
The situation quickly escalated into chaos as numerous pro-Yoon YouTubers and activists infiltrated the campus to join forces with the opposing faction of anti-Yoon student activists, despite the university's restrictions on outsiders participating in rallies.
Verbal insults were exchanged between the opposing factions, with some engaging in physical altercations, until university officials and police were called to restore order.
The National Assembly's impeachment of Yoon for his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law on December 3 has created a significant divide within the nation, transforming typically peaceful university campuses into venues for political disputes, where supporters of Yoon confront those calling for his ousting.
"We gathered here today to safeguard the democracy of the 'free Republic of Korea' because we believe (the impeachment of Yoon) was unjust," stated Kim Joo-Ah, a 24-year-old majoring in orchestral instruments, during the rally at Ewha Womans University last Wednesday.
Kim asserts that Yoon's impeachment should be deemed null and void, advocating for his reinstatement during the ongoing impeachment trial.
A growing number of younger individuals, like Kim, have emerged prominently among pro-Yoon rallies, previously dominated by participants in their 60s or older.
Kim Ji-hye, an Ewha graduate with a history major, also condemned Yoon's impeachment, arguing that the entire process, from President Yoon's arrest to the investigations, was "illegal," thereby rendering his impeachment fraudulent.
Brandishing picket signs with slogans such as "Freedom of expression" and "Stop the steal," while donning jackets adorned with the school emblem, protesters chanted, "Impeachment is invalid," waving both Korean and American flags during the demonstration at Ewha.
Such pro-Yoon protesters have become increasingly noticeable on university campuses nationwide, with Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Pusan National University experiencing similar demonstrations last month, often resulting in heated confrontations with their anti-Yoon counterparts.
For students like Lee, an Ewha student who chose to be identified by her surname, such on-campus confrontations signal that the school is no longer a "safe space" and is vulnerable to outside disturbances.
"There were no valid grounds to justify the imposition of martial law," she stated, asserting that its sole purpose was to "destabilize the lives of the populace and disrupt the national order."
Another Ewha graduate, who majored in political science and requested anonymity, mentioned that she returned to the university for the first time in a decade after hearing of far-right groups organizing at her alma mater.
"It's astonishing to witness these individuals entering the school, advocating for freedom of expression while supporting the coup factions," she remarked.
Experts highlight the potential illegality of outsiders entering university campuses for political campaigning.
"There is an illicit aspect to their actions as they bring conflict into educational institutions and impose their views on individuals who they know would disagree," commented Professor Lee Jun-han from Incheon National University.
Professor Lee Na-young, a sociology instructor at Chung-Ang University, attributed blame to conservative lawmakers who, according to her, openly participate in rallies opposing President Yoon's impeachment and overtly align with far-right sentiments, inciting Yoon's supporters to take action.
A 70-year-old Ewha graduate named Hwang recalled her freshman year in 1975, when she witnessed her seniors being forcibly removed by riot police during the martial law enacted by the late President Park Chung-hee, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
"These students are unaware of what it means to live under martial law," Hwang stated, as she joined many others demanding Yoon's impeachment.
