A commemorative photo was taken after dinner at a restaurant in Mapo. Introduction of individuals omitted. Hankook Ilbo

Yesterday, I had dinner with the executive members of the youth group "Freedom University." Sitting around a long table in a small restaurant, their faces were remarkably bright. There was none of the somber tension often associated with groups deeply involved in politics. Instead, clear and sharp eyes, filled with anticipation and curiosity, approached me first.

However, beyond their smiles, there was a clear burden. The youth clearly shared the constitutional values of liberal democracy and market economy, and at the same time, they did not hide their overt antipathy towards the Lee Jae-myung administration. Some might dismiss it as political bias, but their words and attitudes, as I encountered them, carried a sense of desperation rather than mere political preference.

Their operational circumstances were by no means comfortable. Most of their support comes in small amounts, and their office situation is not even stable, yet they have not been discouraged. It was these individuals who successfully organized the "Yoon Again" march in Seoul and Busan on August 5th. The shouts of freedom from thousands of people were not spontaneous. Behind the scenes was the sweat, dedication, and unwavering sense of mission of these young people.

Now, they are planning to take their message beyond national borders with a rally in Washington D.C. in September. Their call to protect democracy is no longer confined to the Korean Peninsula but is expanding globally.

What moved me most, above all else, was the sense of mission they possessed. There was a profound realization: "If not us, then who will step forward?"

At the gathering that day, the youth intensely questioned Representative Huh Gyeom about the 12.3 spy ring arrest case and also posed several questions about conservative civil society. Their questions were unreserved, and the answers were earnest. The conversation was not simply out of curiosity but was closer to a struggle to confirm the historical tasks they were shouldering.

I couldn't help but compare them inwardly. Unlike the established politicians who claim to monopolize democracy while calling themselves "progressive," but in reality cling to power and interests and deceive the public, these young people were sincere. They spoke simple truths instead of flowery language and posed questions with transparent eyes instead of calculated smiles. Isn't that sincerity the healthiest force supporting democracy?

As the meal neared its end, the youth spoke of their future plans. It was a pledge to forge their own path without vast funding or political backing.

At that moment, my heart sank with a heavy feeling. Why must these young people shoulder such a difficult fight alone? Why must they take to the streets and raise their banners? If the older generation had fulfilled its role, today's youth would not need to cry out for freedom so arduously.

Suddenly, I was reminded of the youth of the spring of 1980.

They took to the streets to fight against military dictatorship and win democracy. They did not retreat even in the face of guns and swords, and they broke through the walls of the era, shedding blood. Their sacrifice became the foundation of the freedom and systems we enjoy today.

However, more than 40 years later, some members of that generation, now in positions of power, are labeling the new youth who cry out for freedom as "far-right." The reality of those who were resisters seeking freedom now standing on the opposite side of those who are guardians protecting freedom. This is the strange historical scene we are witnessing.

Here, the question becomes even heavier.

How will the youth of today, in 2025, transform in the future? Will these individuals, who stand in the streets with cries to protect freedom, become another older generation and repeat the same mistakes? Or will they, learning from the degeneration of their predecessors, ultimately remain on the side of freedom?

History repeats itself, but it does not always repeat in the same way. The sincerity evident in their eyes today may be the only clue to the future.

Looking at the bright eyes of the youth yesterday, I felt both shame and hope. The shame stems from the fact that our generation has driven them to the streets, and the hope comes from the conviction that their sincere sense of mission is the force that sustains democracy.

The youth who cry out for freedom have always been the mirror of their times. When today's youth of 2025 become the powers of tomorrow, I hope they do not betray the gaze they hold today.

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