Patriotic citizens angered by ‘election fraud’ chant slogans for a “rerun election due to fraud” at Jamsil. [Hanmi Ilbo] 

The past decade has been a nightmare for the conservative right.

The impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, which began after the Sewol ferry disaster, plunged the entire conservative right wing into a deep quagmire. Afterward, even the declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk-yeol was characterized as rebellion, pushing the conservative camp further into a corner. The author believes that this series of events did not shake the free democratic system of the Republic of Korea, but rather represented a massive current that swept away 99% of those who stood against them. The final 1% was the June 3rd local elections.

However, history always prepares moments for a reversal.

The conservative right was withering like a tree on the verge of death, as the participation of the younger generation, so eagerly sought at Seoul Station and Gwanghwamun, was not forthcoming. Yet, a completely different scene is unfolding in Jamsil recently. It is the continuous participation and voluntary service of young people, 24 hours a day, and their passion to protect liberal democracy.

Like the Han River, which had been blocked and is now flowing again, new life is stirring in Jamsil.

The author believes this is not merely a rally, but the beginning of a new civic movement to set the Republic of Korea on the right course.

This cannot be compared to the April 19th Revolution or the June Democracy Movement of 1987. There is a fundamental difference.

According to numerous sources, claims have long been made that the April 19th Revolution had some connection to North Korea's strategy against the South. Furthermore, the debate surrounding the nature of the June Democracy Movement of 1987 has continued, as it later became known that a significant number of key figures from Jeon Dae Hyeop (National Council of University Student Representatives) were active as pro-North Korean oriented activists.

In contrast, the young people gathered in Jamsil today are not receiving orders from anyone. They have taken to the streets not through organized mobilization, but through voluntary decision-making. They speak not of specific ideologies or revolutionary slogans, but of the restoration of liberal democracy and fairness. This is precisely where it fundamentally differs from past rallies led by activist groups.

However, this does not mean we can rest easy. Any movement, as it grows in scale, will see forces attempting to steer it in a different direction. This is precisely what the author witnessed firsthand on-site on the 6th. Certain groups, known as Daejinyon, systematically occupied areas from Sector 1 to 3 from the mid-point of the rally and attempted to seize control of its flow. They encouraged participants to repeatedly chant only the specific slogan of 'rerun election,' and most importantly, they went so far as to drag and trample on American flags, which were carried by participants who valued the ROK-US alliance, thereby damaging them.

The scene was momentarily in turmoil.

The core of the Jamsil rally was about election fairness and the defense of liberal democracy, but a dangerous situation arose that could have been misconstrued as an anti-American political movement.

Fortunately, the participants on-site did not remain silent.

Citizens immediately raised concerns, and various YouTube channels and civic group representatives stepped in to protect the original intent of the rally. Afterward, the slogans evolved to 'rerun election due to fraud' and 'vote counting on election day,' and the situation quickly stabilized. It was a moment that thwarted the attempt to derail the 'final 1%.'

This point is crucial.

In past rallies led by activist groups, a small radical faction often dictated the overall direction. However, in Jamsil, citizens made their own judgments and corrected the course themselves. This is the strength of liberal democracy.

There is more to the current scene in Jamsil than a mere political rally.

There are elders who stay up all night cheering on the youth, citizens who travel from distant regions, and young people who worry about the nation's future. Their coming together is reviving a sense of community that has long been forgotten.

What is now needed is the participation of even more citizens.

Parents should bring their children, and grandparents should bring their grandchildren to the site. It is not about political slogans. It is to show the next generation that freedom is not given freely.

History is always made by vigilant citizens.

For the Jamsil victory to truly ring true, we must be angry yet restrained, filled with hatred yet mindful of dignity, and maintain a clear objective even amidst chaos.

This is possible if we do not lose our original intention to protect liberal democracy. If we do so, history might one day record today's Jamsil as the starting point from which the Republic of Korea rose again.

◆ Jeong Seong-hong

Chairman, Hanmi Ilbo

Former Senior Official, National Intelligence Service