Patriotic citizens calling for a re-election due to electoral fraud, even in the rain. ⒸHanmi Ilbo

On Saturday afternoon, July 4, I received a call from my eldest daughter.

“Dad, where are you? The kids want to go to Olympic Park. They also said they wanted to see Grandpa.” 

“Is that so? Then let’s meet around five o'clock. Come to the 1-2 gate area.”

My eldest daughter brought only her second child, a sixth-grader, explaining that her first granddaughter, a high school sophomore, was asleep after finishing her exams and couldn't be woken up. My granddaughter, holding a piece of drawing paper inscribed with the South Korean flag pattern and slogans like "Re-election for Electoral Fraud" and "Hand-counting for Election Day Ballots," watched with curiosity as people around her chanted the same slogans in unison. 

After singing all four verses of the national anthem together, we visited the fasting protest tent of Kim Eun-gu, representative of the Seoul National University Truth Forum. Despite being on his sixth day of fasting, a warm smile never left Mr. Kim’s gaunt face.

From left: Jung Sung-hong, Chairman of Hanmi Ilbo; second granddaughter; Kim Eun-gu, Representative of Truth Forum. ⒸHanmi Ilbo

Former lawmaker Min Kyung-wook, who was screening materials related to the allegations of electoral fraud, also gave the children a warm welcome. Feeling comfortable in the atmosphere, my granddaughter held my hand tightly and said, “Grandpa, you’ve lost a lot of weight.”

Rallies have been continuing for over a month at Olympic Park, where 430 ballot boxes are being stored. International media outlets have praised this as a peaceful civic movement rarely seen in world history. It holds even greater significance in that it is not directed by a specific leader or organization, but is driven by individuals participating as the true protagonists.

The French Revolution of 1789 began amidst hunger and rage against the old regime. While the revolution toppled absolute monarchy, it eventually led to the Napoleonic Empire after a period of terror and chaos. It left behind the lesson that democracy can also degenerate into another form of oppression by the power of the majority if it is not restrained by law and institutions.

In contrast, the American independence of 1776 followed a different path. The Declaration of Independence proclaimed that all men are created equal and are endowed with the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It was a historic declaration that clarified the philosophy of natural human rights.

However, freedom could not be guaranteed by a declaration alone. The U.S. Constitution, enacted in 1787, established a system to protect that freedom through the separation of powers and checks and balances. Lincoln famously referred to this Constitution as a “silver frame” for the “apple of gold” which is the Declaration of Independence. He meant that freedom must be protected by controlling the imperfect human nature through institutions.

This constitutionalism is even more clearly reflected in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The First Amendment stipulates that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, except in limited cases such as direct incitement to violence, threats, or defamation. For this reason, the First Amendment is considered one of the strongest constitutional provisions in the world guaranteeing freedom of expression.

The Constitution of the Republic of Korea, enacted on July 17, 1948, also widely guarantees the fundamental rights of its citizens. The founding Constitution of South Korea was deeply influenced by American constitutionalism, faithfully embodying the principles of liberty and the separation of powers. Naturally, the understanding and insight of the first President, Syngman Rhee, regarding the U.S. Constitution played a crucial role in this process.

However, the government announced that starting July 7, 2026, it would implement an amendment to the Information and Communications Network Act that imposes fines of up to 1 billion won and, in certain cases, punitive damages for the repeated distribution of false or manipulated information. It is essentially a “gag law.”

From the legislative process, this bill has been criticized as an unconstitutional measure unilaterally passed by the Democratic Party of Korea, which holds an absolute majority, to block public criticism of Lee Jae-myung. In fact, it has been reported that a U.S. State Department official also expressed concern that this law could stifle freedom of expression and grant the government excessive censorship power.

In particular, the fact that the government’s Broadcasting and Communications Commission is the one judging what constitutes “false or manipulated information” appears to be an attempt to create a "sacred" area, blocking discussion and raising questions on controversial issues, including allegations of electoral fraud, historical interpretations of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, and even Lee Jae-myung’s crimes.

Democracy grows on blood, but dictators grow on silence. That is why we must not remain silent. Therefore, we must uncover the reality of electoral fraud through a special counsel led by the opposition, severely punish those involved including Lee Jae-myung, and establish a new 7th Republic through a re-election.

Furthermore, we must never remain silent until the truth of the May 18 movement is revealed. We all must resist until we finally make them tremble.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

This is a famous expression attributed to Evelyn Beatrice Hall, a biographer of Voltaire.

It is a passage that reads as a call for us to build a society where people can speak freely rather than silencing others, so that our children can have bright smiles in the society we face today.

◆ Jung Sung-hong

Chairman of Hanmi Ilbo

Former official of the National Intelligence Service