‘I’m standing with my people:’ South Korean Minnesotan watches political chaos unfold from afar
Protesters march to the presidential office after a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday.
Ahn Young-joon | AP
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It’s been a chaotic week in politics in South Korea, where the president declared martial law and lifted it hours later, after Parliament voted to reject his move. Martial law is the replacement of civilian government by military rule. Now President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing calls for resignation and a potential impeachment.
Minnesota is home to nearly 30,000 people of Korean descent and is the nation’s largest number of Korean adoptees. SeungGyeong Ji is from South Korea and is currently an instructor at the University of Minnesota, specializing in gender and women’s studies. Ji joined Minnesota Now to talk about what she’s hearing from back home.
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Audio transcript
NINA MOINI: It's been a chaotic week in politics in South Korea, where the president declared martial law, and then lifted it hours later after parliament voted to reject his move. Martial law is the replacement of civilian government by military rule. Now, President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing calls for resignation and a potential impeachment.
Minnesota is home to nearly 30,000 people of Korean descent. And that includes the nation's largest number of Korean adoptees. We're going to turn now to just one perspective from someone with ties to South Korea.
SeungGyeong Ji is from South Korea and currently an instructor at the University of Minnesota, specializing in gender and women's studies. SeungGyeong, thank you for being on the program today. We really appreciate your time.
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Thank you for having me.
NINA MOINI: Well, it's probably a difficult time for you. We do appreciate you talking about this. I was interested to read that South Korea has only been a democracy since 1987. What have you been hearing from friends and family in South Korea just over the past few days?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Oh, it has been chaotic as you mentioned. And we're worried about other friends safety, particularly one activist friend who stayed outside of the National Assembly at the night when President Yoon Suk Yeol announced the martial law.
One of my friends was there at the National Assembly. So we are worried about her safety. But fortunately, there was no major violence in the National Assembly.
NINA MOINI: Sure, yeah. It's hard to know that things are so chaotic. Had you heard from people about what it was like in the past, throughout the history of South Korea? I understand, martial law had been declared before in 1980 and before that. So what have you heard from people as they're living through this?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: People are very upset and frustrated. And we are demanding justice. And we are demanding constitutional rights, our constitutional rights to speak freely. And also, we have a historical trauma about the martial law, as you mentioned.
Because of martial law in the 1980s, many people who demanded democracy and free speech, they were massacred. They were killed by the dictators. We have this historical trauma right now. But the Yoon Suk Yeol government announced martial law out of no reason. So we South Korean citizens are very angry and frustrated right now.
NINA MOINI: Sure. I wonder, did the fact that President Yoon quickly lifted martial law ease your fears about the future of the country and democracy?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Absolutely. Lifting the martial law is a really well made decision. I mean, announcing martial law was a really terrible decision. And I know South Korean democracy is working.
And people are demanding justice and impeachment of President on the street. And they are protected. So we are protecting our democracy and freedom of speech on the street. And people-- we have a right to voice our opinions and thoughts on the street and on the protest as well.
NINA MOINI: And so trying to protect that and wanting the system to work the way that it is intended to work. And I understand that in South Korea, not unlike our country, political power is divided in government. The president's party is more conservative, it sounds like, the opposing party, more liberal. What are some of the big issues that you see dividing people in your country?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Yeah, as you mentioned, this two party system really divides people along the lines of their age, and their reasons, where they live, and even by their genders, because conservative parties are opposing gender equality in South Korean society.
So especially in terms of age, many older people support the conservative party. And more younger generations support the democratic party. So this divide has been very big in South Korean society.
NINA MOINI: Sure. And I wonder, too, you mentioned age differences, I'm assuming there are divisions among families. Do you mind sharing how your family falls within those divides?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Yeah, actually, my parents, we lived-- when I was young, we lived in Busan city. It's one of the very conservative areas and very conservative regions. And my parents support the conservative party.
And I studied at Seoul. I went to the school at Seoul. And I learned the history of democracy in South Korea. And I learned the history of the people's movement for the democracy. And then, I support progressive and liberal parties.
But I want to say that the current two party system does not reflect our demand for more justice and more bottom up voices from other diverse backgrounds of people. For instance, women's voices, and people with disabilities, and transgender peoples' voices has been ignored by these two party systems in South Korea.
NINA MOINI: And your work, again, just for everybody, is in gender and women's studies. And I'm curious if you see the polarization influenced by things like gender, geography? Do you see similarities between the US society here and what's going on there?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Yes. As President Yoon Suk Yeol announced martial law under the name of the threat from North Korea, so that kind of nationalist-- I mean, that kind of red complex impacted South Korean politics for a long time.
And under the name of martial law or under the name of national interest, many minority peoples' interests have been ignored-- as I mentioned, particularly women's voices, and working women's voices, and migrant women's voices, and women with disabilities, and transgender peoples.
So I would say democracy is very key to uphold our voices. And altogether, I believe that to protect democracy is one way to protect everyone's social rights in South Korean society.
NINA MOINI: It's interesting that we often hear about what's going on in other countries when something chaotic or negative happens. But I wonder if this week, you feel a sense of responsibility, or if people are asking you about your country, and how that's making you feel?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Yes. I'm staying in Apple Valley, Minnesota.
NINA MOINI: Oh, sure.
SEUNGGYEONG JI: And when I heard the news about martial law, at first, I thought that it was a fake news, because in South Korea, we have a very democratic society. And all members of society are working hard. And we are very proud of our democracy, because it's out of people's demand and people's movement.
And many people lost their lives to achieve this democracy. So I worried a lot about this martial law announcement. But at the same time, I'm standing with my people back in South Korea.
NINA MOINI: Of course. And just before I let you go, what's next for you as it relates to what's going on there? Do you plan to go back there at any point, or what's your plan?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Yeah, I want to support my friends who are fighting against the Yoon government. And I am witnessing a lot of social movement sectors, their protest in the Seoul Street and other parts of the cities. So I fully support their protest. And I will be in contact with my friends and colleagues who are fighting for the justice and democracy in South Korea right now.
NINA MOINI: SeungGyeong, I really appreciate you coming on today and talking about all of this with us. And I wish you and your family the best.
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Thank you very much for having me.
NINA MOINI: That was SeungGyeong Ji, an instructor at the University of Minnesota, specializing in gender and women's studies.
Minnesota is home to nearly 30,000 people of Korean descent. And that includes the nation's largest number of Korean adoptees. We're going to turn now to just one perspective from someone with ties to South Korea.
SeungGyeong Ji is from South Korea and currently an instructor at the University of Minnesota, specializing in gender and women's studies. SeungGyeong, thank you for being on the program today. We really appreciate your time.
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Thank you for having me.
NINA MOINI: Well, it's probably a difficult time for you. We do appreciate you talking about this. I was interested to read that South Korea has only been a democracy since 1987. What have you been hearing from friends and family in South Korea just over the past few days?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Oh, it has been chaotic as you mentioned. And we're worried about other friends safety, particularly one activist friend who stayed outside of the National Assembly at the night when President Yoon Suk Yeol announced the martial law.
One of my friends was there at the National Assembly. So we are worried about her safety. But fortunately, there was no major violence in the National Assembly.
NINA MOINI: Sure, yeah. It's hard to know that things are so chaotic. Had you heard from people about what it was like in the past, throughout the history of South Korea? I understand, martial law had been declared before in 1980 and before that. So what have you heard from people as they're living through this?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: People are very upset and frustrated. And we are demanding justice. And we are demanding constitutional rights, our constitutional rights to speak freely. And also, we have a historical trauma about the martial law, as you mentioned.
Because of martial law in the 1980s, many people who demanded democracy and free speech, they were massacred. They were killed by the dictators. We have this historical trauma right now. But the Yoon Suk Yeol government announced martial law out of no reason. So we South Korean citizens are very angry and frustrated right now.
NINA MOINI: Sure. I wonder, did the fact that President Yoon quickly lifted martial law ease your fears about the future of the country and democracy?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Absolutely. Lifting the martial law is a really well made decision. I mean, announcing martial law was a really terrible decision. And I know South Korean democracy is working.
And people are demanding justice and impeachment of President on the street. And they are protected. So we are protecting our democracy and freedom of speech on the street. And people-- we have a right to voice our opinions and thoughts on the street and on the protest as well.
NINA MOINI: And so trying to protect that and wanting the system to work the way that it is intended to work. And I understand that in South Korea, not unlike our country, political power is divided in government. The president's party is more conservative, it sounds like, the opposing party, more liberal. What are some of the big issues that you see dividing people in your country?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Yeah, as you mentioned, this two party system really divides people along the lines of their age, and their reasons, where they live, and even by their genders, because conservative parties are opposing gender equality in South Korean society.
So especially in terms of age, many older people support the conservative party. And more younger generations support the democratic party. So this divide has been very big in South Korean society.
NINA MOINI: Sure. And I wonder, too, you mentioned age differences, I'm assuming there are divisions among families. Do you mind sharing how your family falls within those divides?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Yeah, actually, my parents, we lived-- when I was young, we lived in Busan city. It's one of the very conservative areas and very conservative regions. And my parents support the conservative party.
And I studied at Seoul. I went to the school at Seoul. And I learned the history of democracy in South Korea. And I learned the history of the people's movement for the democracy. And then, I support progressive and liberal parties.
But I want to say that the current two party system does not reflect our demand for more justice and more bottom up voices from other diverse backgrounds of people. For instance, women's voices, and people with disabilities, and transgender peoples' voices has been ignored by these two party systems in South Korea.
NINA MOINI: And your work, again, just for everybody, is in gender and women's studies. And I'm curious if you see the polarization influenced by things like gender, geography? Do you see similarities between the US society here and what's going on there?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Yes. As President Yoon Suk Yeol announced martial law under the name of the threat from North Korea, so that kind of nationalist-- I mean, that kind of red complex impacted South Korean politics for a long time.
And under the name of martial law or under the name of national interest, many minority peoples' interests have been ignored-- as I mentioned, particularly women's voices, and working women's voices, and migrant women's voices, and women with disabilities, and transgender peoples.
So I would say democracy is very key to uphold our voices. And altogether, I believe that to protect democracy is one way to protect everyone's social rights in South Korean society.
NINA MOINI: It's interesting that we often hear about what's going on in other countries when something chaotic or negative happens. But I wonder if this week, you feel a sense of responsibility, or if people are asking you about your country, and how that's making you feel?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Yes. I'm staying in Apple Valley, Minnesota.
NINA MOINI: Oh, sure.
SEUNGGYEONG JI: And when I heard the news about martial law, at first, I thought that it was a fake news, because in South Korea, we have a very democratic society. And all members of society are working hard. And we are very proud of our democracy, because it's out of people's demand and people's movement.
And many people lost their lives to achieve this democracy. So I worried a lot about this martial law announcement. But at the same time, I'm standing with my people back in South Korea.
NINA MOINI: Of course. And just before I let you go, what's next for you as it relates to what's going on there? Do you plan to go back there at any point, or what's your plan?
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Yeah, I want to support my friends who are fighting against the Yoon government. And I am witnessing a lot of social movement sectors, their protest in the Seoul Street and other parts of the cities. So I fully support their protest. And I will be in contact with my friends and colleagues who are fighting for the justice and democracy in South Korea right now.
NINA MOINI: SeungGyeong, I really appreciate you coming on today and talking about all of this with us. And I wish you and your family the best.
SEUNGGYEONG JI: Thank you very much for having me.
NINA MOINI: That was SeungGyeong Ji, an instructor at the University of Minnesota, specializing in gender and women's studies.
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