Citizens calling for a "rerun of fraudulent elections" at Jamsil. ⒸHanmi Ilbo 

We all remember the June Democratic Uprising of 1987.

The June Uprising was a historical struggle to abolish President Chun Doo-hwan's indirect presidential election system, with the slogans "Abolish the Constitution" and "Direct Presidential Election," primarily led by university students.

However, while it was led by university students, it was the large participation of so-called "tie brigades," or office workers, that led to the "June 29 Declaration" and the establishment of the current constitution and direct presidential election system.

In June 2026, another June Uprising is igniting like wildfire.

The location is the Handball Stadium at Olympic Park, but it is spreading to major cities like Busan and Daegu, and declarations of current affairs are also continuing from universities.

The slogan for this new June Uprising is "Rerun of Fraudulent Elections."

This is an explosion of public anger over the fact that the recent June 3 local elections, by-elections for National Assembly members, and superintendent elections were conducted as unprecedented fraudulent elections.

Whereas the June Uprising of 1987 was limited to university students and office workers, this current June Uprising sees a large influx of middle and high school students, housewives, and the older generation joining forces with the past participants, making it incomparable in scale and fervor. 

Another difference is that our ally, the United States, is closely watching.

Therefore, I am confident that our 2026 June Revolution will be 100% successful.

Fraudulent elections are by no means an issue of left versus right, and even less so an issue between factions. It is a matter of the fundamental right to vote and the very existence of the Republic of Korea.

Thus, finally, many citizens have awakened, and only those who have participated can feel the scale and fervor. 

It is impossible to fully grasp the vivid atmosphere, not only through legacy media but even through YouTube.

We must all participate in this historic event. 

Since it is a 24-hour continuous event, anyone can participate during their available time, and since there are no organizers, each participant is both the organizer and the protagonist.

Today, I am heading to the Olympic Park Handball Stadium to become one dot.

Long live patriotic citizens!!!

Long live the Republic of Korea!!! 

◆ Columnist Cho Yang-geon

Head of the National Struggle Headquarters for the April 15th Fraudulent Election (Kuktubon)

External Affairs Director of the Free High School Alliance