I wanted to share with you a personal reflection on the events that have unfolded in South Korea over the past week. It has been an incredibly challenging time for me as my homeland faced the shocking and “unlawful” declaration of emergency martial law by President Yoon late one evening. Since last Tuesday, I have been glued to news outlets, struggling to get adequate rest as I closely followed developments.

Fortunately, the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea acted swiftly, passing a motion to reject the martial law within two hours of its declaration. Citizens immediately rallied to the parliament building, supporting the Assembly and standing firmly for democracy. However, the situation remains unresolved. The ruling party has resisted efforts to impeach the president, leaving the nation in a state of political uncertainty.

It appears that the current president had devised a plan to provoke military conflict with North Korea, aiming to use it as a pretext to declare martial law easily and legally. However, with North Korea preoccupied by the Ukraine-Russia war and deploying troops to that conflict, they did not respond to the South’s military provocations. The president then shifted tactics, targeting the National Assembly by accusing several opposition politicians of being North Korea sympathizers, which ultimately led to his declaration of martial law.

This turmoil has been deeply unsettling for me, as I belong to the very last generation that witnessed and participated in South Korea’s student democratic movement. The country achieved the promise of democratic presidential elections in 1987, and when I was a senior in high school, South Korea elected its first non-military president. However, my freshman year of college was still marked by violent protests, with students throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at government buildings. Within a year or two, these protests subsided as democracy took root, and for over 30 years, South Korea enjoyed democratic stability. It is, therefore, heartbreaking to see these hard-won freedoms now placed in jeopardy by the actions of a single individual.

What has been remarkable, however, is the response of the Korean people. I feared violent demonstrations reminiscent of past struggles, but instead, millions gathered peacefully, singing K-pop songs and holding lightsticks. The resilience, discipline, and hope displayed by citizens have been extraordinary.

This experience has been a sobering reminder that democracy is fragile and must be continually protected. At the Jewish-Christian Dialogue in Boston last month, we expressed shared concerns about the challenges facing democracy globally, including here in the United States. The participants at the dialogue meeting offered some insightful suggestions for navigating these turbulent times. I hope to share their recommendations with you one day.

In the meantime, I ask for your prayers for the Korean people. The ecumenical community, including Global Ministries and the National Council of Churches in the USA, has issued statements of support, and I was honored to assist the NCCCUSA in drafting theirs. I feel profoundly grateful for these ecumenical friends who stand in solidarity and understand the struggles of others.

I am deeply grateful for the prayers and empathy from many friends as I navigate these emotionally exhausting days. Last week, when martial law was declared, I even considered flying back to Korea to join the demonstrations. However, I am thankful that it was not necessary. With hope for peace, I wait expectantly for Christ, the Prince of Peace, to come in this season of Advent.

Paul Tché
President
Disciples CUIM

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the CUIM or the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).