As the aftermath of President Yoon Seok-yeol's state of emergency continues, actors Go Hyun-jung, Ko Min-si, and Go Ah-sung have lit candles.
On the 7th, Go Ah-sung posted a photo taken in a car heading to Yeouido on her Instagram story.
Quoting the title of the movie she starred in, “I Hate Korea,” Go Ah-sung added the caption, “I hate Korea X. I need to save Korea O.”
Ko Min-si also posted on her Instagram story that day, writing “3 o'clock” along with a candle emoji, which seems to encourage participation in the candlelight vigil.
Ko Min-si appeared in the KBS2 drama “Youth of May” in 2021. “Youth of May” is set against the backdrop of Gwangju during the period of martial law in May 1980.
Prior to this, Go Hyun-jung expressed her support by leaving a comment saying “Flame” on a statement related to the state of emergency posted by director Byun Young-joo on Instagram.
Director Byun Young-joo shared a statement from the 22nd class of the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at her alma mater, Ewha Womans University, stating, “No matter what tomorrow brings, we will continue to stand up and protect our dignity.”
Ewha Womans University students wrote in the statement, “We appeal to all youth,” stating, “On December 3, 2024, we witnessed Yoon Seok-yeol declaring a state of emergency and blocking the National Assembly. It was the first time we saw a state of emergency come out of the textbooks. We witnessed soldiers stepping on the National Assembly and soldiers pointing guns at citizens for the first time in our lives.”
They continued, “1997 was the year of the first peaceful transfer of power. If we were to personify it, it would only be twenty-eight years old this year. Our peace is still the same age as youth. We can no longer tolerate the death of any peer. We earnestly appeal for the protection of youth, the green spring, and the spring of Seoul once again.”
On the same day, Jung Chan also posted on Instagram, “Since I’m in Yeouido, I can’t just go to the exhibition. I plan to stop by Insadong, so I will get off at Gwanghwamun Station. Since my friends from Line 1 are in Gwanghwamun, I should stop by there to meet them as well,” adding, “I hope today will be a day when democracy blooms. Have a great weekend,” expressing his intention to participate in the candlelight vigil.
Earlier, President Yoon Seok-yeol declared a state of emergency in a public address on the 3rd at 10:25 PM, but declared the lifting of the state of emergency about six hours later, at 4:27 AM on the 4th, in response to demands from the National Assembly.
In a public address on the morning of the 7th, just four days after declaring the state of emergency, President Yoon said, “I sincerely apologize to the citizens who were very surprised and worried,” adding, “The declaration of this state of emergency stemmed from my urgency as the president, who bears the ultimate responsibility for state affairs. I will leave the future stability of the political situation, including my term, to our party. The future operation of state affairs will be jointly managed by our party and the government.”
In response, that afternoon, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and civil society organizations such as the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy held a nationwide candlelight march in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol. The National Assembly is currently voting on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol.
