A single ray of light filtering through a narrow window; the space for prayer has unexpectedly become a front line of struggle. Hanmi Ilbo Graphics

The word "struggle" first appeared in President Yoon Suk-yeol's remarks during his prison visit on November 12th. While it is a change of just one word, its weight is by no means insignificant. He redefined himself not as a defendant in court, but as a warrior upholding truth and justice. The language of prayer transformed into the language of action, and sentences of patience became sentences of confrontation.

Until now, President Yoon's language was "rule of law" and "truth." He portrayed himself as an executor of the constitution and a guardian of justice. However, this time he stated, "It is the struggle I must undertake to expose falsehoods with the light of truth and to restore broken rule of law with justice." "Struggle" is not the language of a prosecutor, but the language of a battlefield. This is because his reality has changed. Amidst weekly trials and ongoing investigations, President Yoon did not position himself as a defensive figure. Instead, he reframed the courtroom as a battlefield and the defendant's seat as the front line of truth.

His prison remarks have gone through three stages over the past three months. In August, he said, "Although it is a 5.9-square-meter solitary cell, I am grateful for the permission to have a place for prayer." In September and October, he stated, "The law does not belong to the powerful," and "Stop the oppression of the military." And in November, the resolve finally emerged: "It is the struggle I must undertake." If the language of August was the language of faith, the language of September-October shifted to the language of justice, and the language of November changed to the language of action and confrontation. His message has evolved from faith to justice, and from justice to struggle.

In his remarks, President Yoon quoted James 2:22 from the Bible: "You see that his faith was active along with his actions, and his faith was made complete by what he did." This verse is central to James, which continues with "faith without deeds is dead" (2:17). It means that true faith is proven not by inner conviction, but by action. It is symbolic that President Yoon mentioned "struggle" immediately after this verse. His narrative progresses from faith to action, and then to struggle. Obedience to faith translates into political practice, and practice is perfected into the language of resistance. "Struggle" is not mere emotion but the point at which the actions of faith are completed.

His language now moves beyond legal principles into narrative. The procedural language of "rule of law" has shifted to the moral language of "justice," and "uncovering the truth" has become "carrying out actions." The defendant's seat has become the front line of truth, and the language of defense has transformed into the language of mobilization. The struggle President Yoon speaks of is a language that intertwines faith, justice, and action.

The change in his language is also a sign that reflects the current political reality beyond individual belief. The fact that political discourse has come to rely on rhetoric of struggle rather than consensus or adjustment may indicate that public trust and institutional balance are faltering. When President Yoon calls his fight a "struggle for justice," that phrase sounds like both a personal resolve and a mirror reflecting how far politics has been pushed. Ultimately, the resonance of the word "struggle" returns to us as a question: what language must politics now adopt to regain itself?

The moment the sentences of prayer turned into sentences of struggle, he ceased to be merely a person of faith and became an active political agent. The fact that Yoon Suk-yeol's language has changed, in itself, indicates that the language of Korean politics is transforming. And at the end of this transformation, what language our politics will choose remains an open question.

Full text of the meeting contents conveyed by lawyer Bae Ui-cheol

< I convey the words from President Yoon Suk-yeol's meeting on 11.12 >

I received a letter from a young pastor who is preparing a 'Prayer Meeting for Freedom and Recovery of Sovereignty' with young people. I am grateful for your prayers for me. Seeing young people armed with the spirit of freedom, I do not worry about the future of our nation.

I hope the words from James, "You see that his faith was active along with his actions, and his faith was made complete by what he did," become a beacon for young people. Faith is obedience and practice in hearing the Lord's words. This means doing your best in your position for what needs to be done.

Many citizens have expressed concern through letters about my deteriorating health due to the trials and investigations, which occur four times a week. Please be strong, everyone. I am perfectly fine. It is the struggle I must undertake to go to trial, expose falsehoods with the light of truth, and restore broken rule of law with justice.

God oversees all things. I earnestly pray today for this wounded land to be renewed with truth and justice, and for the citizens and young people who shed tears for the Republic of Korea of freedom.

2025. 11. 12.

I convey these words, recorded during my meeting with President Yoon Suk-yeol, to you.

#YoonSukYeol #PoliticsOfStruggle #PrisonRemarks #RestorationOfRuleOfLaw #StruggleForJustice #FaithAndPolitics #BookOfJames #PoliticalReturn