K-pop Fandom and Flower Wreaths Fuel South Korea’s Impeachment Protests
South Korea’s political landscape was upended in December 2024 when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and deployed troops to the National Assembly, leading to his impeachment just 11 days later. In one of the deepest crises in modern Korean politics, protesters have employed unconventional tools—namely flower wreaths and K-pop light sticks—to voice their support or opposition. Simultaneously, the nation’s vibrant K-pop culture has lent its anthems, slogans, and artists’ voices to galvanize public sentiment, particularly among younger generations. This report synthesizes key facts, protest context, and verified quotes from leading K-pop artists to provide a comprehensive view of how cultural symbolism and fan mobilization are reshaping political protest in South Korea.
This political upheaval has unfolded against a backdrop of intensifying polarization: protesters have flooded government offices with hundreds of flower wreaths and K-pop light sticks bearing messages either condemning or supporting the president, while K-pop fandom culture has increasingly crossed into political activism.
### Protest Tools: Flower Wreaths and Light Sticks
#### Scale of Deployment
- **Volume of Wreaths**: Local media estimate that several thousand wreaths have been sent to government buildings connected to the impeachment process, with some shops alone delivering over 1,000 wreaths since December.
- **Light Stick Usage**: K-pop light sticks—custom LED wands used by fans at concerts—have become symbolic protest implements, illuminating rallies and conveying solidarity.
#### Symbolism and Message Delivery
- Flower wreaths in South Korea traditionally express condolences at funerals, but protesters have repurposed them to deliver political messages.
- Sociologist Choi Hang-sub of Kookmin University observes:
“Even though the form remains the same, the types of flowers or the messages differ. While wreaths avoid physical violence, the messages on funeral wreaths have evolved into a form of offline hate speech, similar to malicious online comments but now decorated with flowers.”
- The content of wreath inscriptions ranges from calls for impeachment to demands for the president’s resignation, underlining deep societal divisions.
### The Role of K-pop Culture in the Protests
K-pop fandom culture—particularly among teen and young adult women—has provided not only protest paraphernalia but also songs, slogans, and organizational energy to the movement.
#### Fandom Mobilization
- Hong Gayeong, a 29-year-old protester, remarks:
“K-pop fandom culture, especially centered around young women in their teens and 20s, is now being applied to political rallies.”
- Shops selling wreaths and light sticks have become de facto hubs for organizing and distributing protest materials.
#### Protest Chants and Songs
| K-pop Element | Usage in Protest | Source & Context |
|----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| aespa slogans | “Impeach, impeach, impeach Yoon Suk Yeol!”<br>“Resign, resign, resign Yoon Suk Yeol!” | Chanted in sync with aespa’s “Whiplash” during a December 6 protest. (Straits Times) [1]
| Girls’ Generation’s “Into the New World” | Sung by protesters holding lit candles in front of the National Assembly on December 5 | Song topped the 2016–17 Park Geun-hye protests and was revived here. (Straits Times) [1]
| Baek Ja’s Carol | “Christmas is merry when Yoon Suk Yeol resigns.” | Performed December 4, went viral on social media. (Straits Times) [1]
### Verified Artist Voices
Leading K-pop artists have publicly weighed in, challenging the notion that entertainers must remain apolitical.
1. **Lee Chae-yeon (IZ*ONE)**
• “Am I not in a position to talk politics? Then what position qualifies?”
• Source: The Korea Times, December 10, 2024 [2]
2. **Youngjae (GOT7)**
• “I’ll be the one to make it happen. I deeply love Korea.”
• Source: The Korea Times, December 10, 2024 [2]
3. **Wooyoung (ATEEZ)**
• Shared support via social media using the candle emoji—symbolic of the protests—and referencing Girls’ Generation’s “Into the New World.”
• Source: The Korea Times, December 10, 2024 [2]
4. **aespa Members** (collective chanting)
• Protesters chanted “Impeach, impeach, impeach Yoon Suk Yeol!” to the beat of aespa’s “Whiplash.”
• Source: The Straits Times [1]
### Public Response and Political Impact
- The use of culturally resonant symbols—flowers, light sticks, songs—has broadened participation, drawing in younger demographics and K-pop fans.
- Media coverage of these protests has surged, highlighting new forms of “offline hate speech” and the politicization of fan culture.
- The unconventional tactics have intensified scrutiny on President Yoon’s actions and contributed to maintaining protest momentum through the holiday season.
### Conclusion
South Korea’s impeachment protests have transcended traditional political demonstrations by integrating elements of flower culture and K-pop fandom. Flower wreaths and light sticks have become canvases for political messages, while beloved pop songs and artist endorsements have amplified calls for accountability. As public dissatisfaction persists, these cultural tools are likely to remain central to the movement, reflecting evolving forms of civic engagement in the digital age.
### References
[1] K-pop, carols, guillotines up the tempo at S. Korea impeachment protests. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/k-pop-carols-guillotines-up-the-tempo-at-s-korea-impeachment-protests
[2] K-pop stars Lee Chae-yeon, GOT7’s Youngjae join calls for president’s impeachment. The Korea Times. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/k-pop/20241210/k-pop-stars-lee-chae-yeon-got7-youngjae-join-calls-for-presidents-impeachment
[3] South Korea protest: Flower wreaths and K-pop light sticks send mixed messages. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-protest-kpop-culture-374acbd5c0e65f1f94991054605f6a58