History of Korean Spirit and Solidarity

It is no exaggeration to say that the modern history of Korea has been defined by protest and solidarity. Whenever the nation has faced a critical threat, Koreans have risen in a massive wave. This spirit of resistance is evident throughout history, from Samil-jeol, the March 1st Movement that echoed nationwide against Japanese colonial rule, to the June Democracy Struggle of 1987 that toppled a military dictatorship, all the way to the recent candlelight demonstrations that illuminated Gwanghwamun Square. Underlying these historical events are Eol—a sentiment unique to Koreans—and a profound sense of solidarity. In particular, the “plantain spirit,” a core element of Eol that symbolizes the resilience to never give up and rise again despite extreme hardships like countless foreign invasions and severe poverty, has significantly influenced the inner landscape of modern Koreans.

From National Causes to Specific Rights

However, in recent years, the protest landscape in Korea has undergone a noticeable shift. Today, demonstrations of varying scales are held almost daily across the country. Prominent examples include subway protests by SADD (Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination) demanding mobility rights, labor strikes by the Samsung Electronics Union, and nationwide walkouts by the Cargo Truckers Solidarity. In past protests, Koreans united as one, driven by macro-level and absolute causes such as overcoming national threats. In contrast, modern protests have become fragmented into a micro-level culture, where specific interest groups and marginalized communities demand their distinct interests and rights.

Watching these changes, some people voice their concerns. They worry that the noble solidarity and spirit of sacrifice from the past are fading, replaced by group selfishness. Public fatigue is growing because these protests directly disrupt citizens’ daily lives. For example, subways are delayed during rush hour, and paralyzed supply chains cause problems at industrial sites. It is an ironic situation: protests that once existed to protect the community now seem to threaten its everyday life. In the midst of this, the united Korean Eol, which we were once so proud of, appears to have lost its way.

Growing Pains for a Diverse Democracy, Not Selfishness

However, it is too simple to just call this phenomenon a “decline in protest culture” or “growing selfishness.” Rather, it should be viewed as an inevitable “growing pain.” It is a natural step as Korean society moves past rapid economic growth and becomes a more diverse democracy.

In the past, there were clear, massive “common enemies,” like a military dictatorship or colonial rule. But today, as our democracy has matured, hidden structural problems are starting to surface. We cannot view the protests by the Cargo Truckers Solidarity and labor unions as just demands for higher wages. Behind them is a desperate cry to fix flaws in our systems. For example, they want to improve occupational safety and health protect lives from dangerous work environments and ensure basic human rights for workers. Similarly, the subway protests are a fierce struggle by marginalized groups to secure their “right to mobility,” something non-disabled people take for granted.

Ultimately, the conflicts we see today do not mean that protests have lost their meaning. Instead, their purposes have diversified. Having achieved the big goals of survival and democratization, Korean society is now moving toward a stage that protects more specific, everyday rights such as labor rights, disability rights, and safe working conditions. The clashes of interests and the noise in this process are natural steps of communication that any living democracy must go through.

Of course, if protests cross the line and harm the rights and daily lives of others, they deserve criticism. The way people protest must also improve to win public support. However, if everyone simply dismisses their voices as “selfish” and ignores them, we can never achieve true social unity.

In the past, we showed a “passionate solidarity,” putting aside our differences to unite against massive crises. However, what we need now is a “rational and mature solidarity.” We need to listen to the unfamiliar pain of others and think about the gaps in our systems together.

The fact that the loud roar of the square has fragmented into many smaller voices doesn’t mean our Eol has faded. The process of these voices clashing, compromising, and building safer, more equitable systems is itself the new history of solidarity that is being written in 21st-century Korea today.

Reporter

Jaeho Lim

limjaeho4119@seoultech.ac.kr

Reporter 임재호

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• e-mail : limjaeho4119@seoultech.ac.kr