[From the scene] Split celebrations mark candle movement’s anniversary

Marking the first anniversary of the candlelight movement, South Koreans gathered to hail what they achieved in one voice last year – the ouster of President Park Geun-hye – but in two different locations.

In front of the National Assembly building in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Saturday, some 10,000 people – mostly young – held their “Candle Party” to celebrate the new era ushered in by peaceful candlelit protests last year.

Organized 100 percent by individual volunteers, the event was notably more upbeat than the other, larger event held at Gwanghwamun Square, the main venue of last year’s movement, by left-wing civic groups and labor unions. 

“We came here to have fun and celebrate the first anniversary of the candlelight movement,” Lee Ki-hwa, who helped organize the event in Yeouido told The Korea Herald. “We planned the event here because it is lawmakers who should listen to our demands.”

Yeouido is where the National Assembly is located.

“But I think our hope to eradicate deep-rooted evil in society would be the same here or there,” he said in reference to those who gathered at Gwanghwamun Square.

One year on, participants at both locations have the same stated goal – eradicating deep-rooted evil that they think has made society unfair, unjust and unsafe. And they believe candles should continue to be lit to have their voices heard by the parliament and government. 

Getting rid of deep-rooted ills begins with investigating Park’s predecessor Lee Myung-bak, who is suspected of creating a slush fund, using the nation’s spy agency to intervene in 2012 election and clamp down on liberals, they said.

But some protesters held a separate event in Yeouido because they opposed the idea of marching toward the presidential office, following the main event in the evening at Gwanghwamun Square. They believe the civic groups demand “too much” from the Moon Jae-in administration that only took office in May.

“President Moon is doing well now. But the organizations are bombarding him with too many demands. We should not be impatient and support him to achieve what he intended to do step by step,” Jeon Young-ok, 58, while marching toward the headquarters of the main opposition Korea Liberty Party.

The anniversary event at Gwanghwamun, which drew some 60,000 participants, was hosted by left-wing civic groups, student groups and labor unions. They are among some 1,500 civic organizations that were behind the 23 anti-Park rallies that took place from October till this year. 

The groups said they would march toward the presidential office as a warning to the Moon Jae-in administration not to forget about his unfulfilled tasks.

In the face of strong resistance and criticism from some supporters of President Moon, they withdrew the plan. Only the nation’s second-biggest umbrella trade union went ahead with the march.

“I think the meaning of candles was distorted by groups of left-wing civic groups. I think the candles were purely the power of the people. I feel like they are using the candle-holding citizens to serve their own interests,” Jeon said.

At recent candlelit rallies at Gwanghwamun Square, there have been several voices raised by different civic groups. Some called on the government to get rid of irregular jobs, others opposed the deployment of anti-US missile system or US President Donald Trump’s upcoming two-day visit here.

But after they helped unseat Park, many citizens, who resonated with the calls to remove the corruption-ridden leader from power, appear to feel uncomfortable with the groups who they see as “using candlelight force to suit their own agendas.”

Unlike the rally at Gwanghwamun Square, participants at the Yeouido rally focused on demanding a thorough probe into ousted Park’s predecessor Lee Myung-bak and criticizing the opposition Liberty Korea Party for not cooperating with the Moon administration for reform plans.

But many saw the divide itself is not a bad thing. It is a display of diversity and a result of maturing democracy in the country, they said.

“I think that those who were once unified started to grow apart. But on the other hand, I think that is a desirable thing in a democratic country,” said Lee Song-ho, 42.

Those who gathered at the Gwanghwamun rally also welcomed the different opinions.

“I am positive that diverse voices start to come out. And Gwanghwamun is a symbolic place for the diverse voices to be heard. I don’t see (the rallies happening at two locations) as a rift,” Choi Mi-young, 38, said.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)