Memes, Jokes and Cats: South Koreans Use Parody for Political Protest

As South Koreans took to the streets this month demanding the ousting of their president, some discovered an surprising outlet to specific their fury: jokes and satire.

They hoisted banners and flags with whimsical messages about cats, sea otters and meals. They waved indicators joking that President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial legislation had compelled them to depart the consolation of their beds. Photos of the flags unfold broadly on social media.

The thought was to make use of humor to construct solidarity in opposition to Mr. Yoon, who has vowed to battle his impeachment over his ill-fated martial legislation decree on Dec. 3. Some waved flags for nonexistent teams just like the so-called Dumpling Affiliation, a parody of actual teams like labor unions, church buildings or pupil golf equipment.

“I simply needed to point out that we have been right here as a part of the folks even when we aren’t truly part of a civic group,” mentioned Kim Sae-rim, 28, who waved the flag of the dumpling group at a latest protest she went to with associates. Some teams referred to different native favorites like pizza and pink bean pastries.

Kwon Oh-hyouck, a veteran protester, mentioned that he had first seen such flags emerge throughout demonstrations in 2016 and 2017 that in the end resulted within the removing of President Park Geun-hye. Mr. Kwon mentioned that satire was a part of the Korean spirit of protest.

“Folks satirize critical conditions, even when these in energy come out with weapons and knives,” he mentioned. “They aren’t intimidated.”

Prior to now month, protesters have provide you with a variety of unorthodox groupings. Some have been self-proclaimed homebodies. Nonetheless others got here collectively as individuals who suffered from movement illness.

Lee Kihoon, a professor of contemporary Korean historical past at Yonsei College in Seoul, mentioned that he believed the flags at this month’s protests have been an expression of the range of individuals galvanized by the president’s try to impose navy rule.

“They’re attempting to say: ‘Even for these of us who don’t have anything to do with political teams, this case is unacceptable,’” he mentioned. “‘I’m not a member of a celebration or something, however that is outrageous.’”

Some held indicators ridiculing Mr. Yoon, saying that he had separated them from their pets at residence and disrupted their routine of watching Korean dramas. One group referred to as itself a union of individuals operating delayed, referring to the concept the necessity to protest over martial legislation had compelled them to reschedule their appointments.

And naturally, there have been animals, each actual and faux.

South Koreans have proven that protests for critical causes — just like the ousting of a president — can nonetheless have an inviting, optimistic and carnival-like environment.

“I don’t know if the protesters notice it, however though they’re offended, they haven’t gotten solemn, heavy or moralistic,” Mr. Lee mentioned. “The flags have had an impact of softening and stress-free the stress.”

On the day that lawmakers voted to question Mr. Yoon, protesters who have been Okay-pop followers introduced lightsticks to rallies and danced to pop songs blasting from audio system. “Though this can be a critical day,” mentioned Lee Jung-min, a 31-year-old fan of the band Large Bang, “we’d as effectively take pleasure in it and hold spirits up.”