The rally calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-youl, held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, is being led by women in their 20s and 30s. One in three participants at the rally is a woman in her 20s or 30s. As the demographic makeup of the protesters changes, light sticks have appeared as tools for the rally instead of candles, and K-pop is being sung instead of people's songs.
On the 15th, Chosun Biz analyzed Seoul's living population data to estimate the scale of the rally held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido on the 7th, calling for President Yoon's impeachment. In collaboration with KT, the Seoul Metropolitan Government publishes the daily living population estimates for each area on an hourly basis on its website. The number of rally participants was estimated by subtracting the average living population for the five Saturdays in November without rallies from the living population in Yeouido on the 7th.
◇ In Park impeachment rally, more men than women participate
The estimate revealed that around 276,000 people gathered at the rally at its peak at 5 p.m. The rally started at 3 p.m. The number of participants exceeded 100,000 at 2 p.m. and surpassed 200,000 from 3 p.m. The largest gathering occurred at 5 p.m., when the assembly to vote on the impeachment resolution was held, and over 100,000 people remained in Yeouido until 8 p.m.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government also estimates and publishes the living population by gender and age group. The analysis showed that approximately 114,000 men (41.2%) and about 162,000 women (58.8%) participated in the rally. The group leading the rally consists of women in their 20s. At 5 p.m., 52,000 women, accounting for 18.9% of the total rally participants, were calling for the impeachment of President Yoon. When adding about 29,000 women in their 30s (10.6%), women in their 20s and 30s comprised 29.5% of the total rally participants.
The second largest group at the rally was men in their 50s (about 38,000, 13.9%). Men in their 20s (about 8,000, 3.0%) and men in their 30s (about 14,000, 5.1%) participated at relatively lower rates.
This is significantly different from the Gwanghwamun candlelight protests during the impeachment proceedings against former President Park Geun-hye. Using Seoul's living population data, the estimates for the Gwanghwamun candlelight rally on March 4, 2017, just before the Constitutional Court's decision to impeach former President Park, showed that 64% of participants were men, while 36% were women. Only 9.6% of the participants were women in their 20s and 30s, fewer than their male counterparts of the same age group (12.5%). The largest group at Gwanghwamun Square was men in their 40s, who are now in their 50s (16.9%).
◇ Fan culture has already infiltrated politics, resulting in the ‘Gae-ddal’ phenomenon
Women in their 20s and 30s were the least supportive group of President Yoon even before the ‘Dec. 3 Martial Law Crisis'. In a survey conducted by Gallup Korea in November, only 5% of women in their 20s (18-29 years old) and 9% of women in their 30s responded that President Yoon was performing well in office. Among men, those in their 40s had the lowest support at 7%, with 10% for men in their 20s and 15% for those in their 30s.
However, among the youth gathered in front of the National Assembly, there are significantly more women than men. It seems that the global ‘Me Too movement' over the past few years and the debate over the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family under Yoon Seok-youl's administration have increased women's interest in politics. The political influence of women in their 20s and 30s was also confirmed with the ‘Gae-ddal' phenomenon, where they showed support for Lee Jaemyung of the Democratic Party during the presidential election two years ago. The behavior of the Gae-ddal has been likened to idol fandom culture.
The Gae-ddal follow Lee around, appearing in flamboyant outfits like dinosaur costumes, indicating that fan culture has already been transplanted into the political arena. This cultural shift in political rallies, turning them into festivals, is one factor that has drawn women in their 20s and 30s to the front of the National Assembly.
People are coming out with the ‘light sticks' of their favorite idol groups, and at the rally site, group singing of songs like Girls' Generation's ‘Into the New World' and Rosé's ‘On the Ground' occurs. Chants such as “Vote on the impeachment bill quickly” and “Resign Yoon Seok-youl of illegal martial law” were also shouted in sync with aespa's new song ‘Whiplash', released just two months ago.
Anmomae (23, female), a university student who participated in the candlelight vigil held in front of the National Assembly on the 9th, said, “I joined the rally on the 7th and 8th too because it's close to my home. With President Yoon's approval ratings already low and entering the impeachment state, it seems festival-like, which makes it enjoyable to attend,” she said. “Seeing others bringing anything that shines, not necessarily candles, I decided to bring my favorite NCT light stick.”
◇ Female fans buy more female idol goods than male fans
It is also observed that gender differences in enthusiasm for cheering with light sticks for favorite idol performances have led to the differences in gender ratios at the rally sites. When first-generation idols like HOT, Sechs Kies, SES, and Fin.K.L. were active, fans cheered with balloons in assigned colors for each group. However, by the mid-2000s, when TVXQ and Big Bang debuted, it became hard to find new balloon colors. Consequently, light sticks, which could be made in various designs, started to appear. Unlike balloons, which were not a financial burden, light sticks cost between 30,000 and 50,000 won, so male fans often did not buy them. An entertainment industry insider noted, “Male fans generally do not buy goods. Female idol goods are mainly purchased by female fans.”
At the rally site in front of the National Assembly, more ‘Yoon Seok-youl OUT' type light sticks are sold than actual candles or LED candles. Kim Mo (72), a street vendor, said on the 9th, “I brought both LED candles and light sticks for the weekend rally, but the light sticks sold better.” There is also an increasing demand for the ‘real’ light sticks used by idol fandoms. The owner of a goods sales store near Hongdae Entrance said, “As the impeachment situation unfolds, the number of people buying light sticks has significantly increased.”