Korean Candle Demonstration against U.S. Beef
Teenage girls play an important role in forming public opinions
by Park Heejung from a feminist journel, Ilda
The series of demonstrations in which the protestors expressed their public opinions against U.S. beef, were found to be outstandingly different from other rallies which had been organized before:
The political views were not important in the series of demonstrations. Many participants who were engaged in the candlelight vigils often said "(before) I have never joined rallies nor demonstrations. But this time I can't stand any more."
The demonstrators are very different from conservative Korean press' points of view about who they are. In this demonstration, not leftists nor anti-U.S. activists, but citizens took the lead, who were concerned about the right to health and thought this new regime made a big mistake during the U.S. beef negotiation. Nevertheless, they are also worried about that their pure intention might be made a bad use of by the existing certain political powers or 'radical activists.'
'Teenage girls', majority of demonstrators
It is another important characteristic at the candlelight vigil that the great majority of the demonstrations are teenage girls.
At the Cheonggyecheon Plaza women especially teenage girls who have never been organized before were shouting their voice "No Mad Cows" at the candlelight vigils, and this is often a fresh shock to many 'adult' participants in the demonstration.
However, some conservative journalists who want to criticize the candlelight vigils underestimate the participation of teenage girls, saying that innocent teenagers are being affected by some bad stars. Even though, teenagers clearly recognize they can be victims by themselves. They recognize the U.S. beef problems are theirs. If the problematic beef is imported cheaply, they recognized that it will be used in school canteens above all, and they will be very harmfully affected because they are physically young and vulnerable.Teenagers' thoughts are not just limited to mad cow diseases. They are also concerned about the government's overall plans such as the privatization of health insurance and the construction of a canal across the nation. Young people and netizens shared these matters including mad cow diseases on the net even before the plan to import the U.S. beef. In addition, they recognize themselves as the 'futures of Korea'. One of the most popular words nowadays is that 'it was students who right wrongs in Korea.' Teenagers show ill feelings against injustice that the old generation ignores.
Since conservative journalists liked to minimize or hide this issue, and blamed students are leftists, or anti-U.S. people or 'brainwashed‘ teens were very outrageous. Morever, strange stories or wild rumor spread by the conservative press had already been found to be reported by themselves during the previous regime. Internet is a space in which the press should not bounce out easily, because netizens can easily disclose it by just surfing the net.
Teenage girls, forming public opinion and taking active action
There should be more analysis about 'why the majority of demonstrators are women.' In order to find the answers, we should listen to what teen girls speak to us. Almost all teenage girls 'take care of others' when they speak out in a demonstration or on the net: 'What shall I do if my mom and daddy are sick from the U.S. beef contaminated by mad cow disease'; 'my brothers may have to have the U.S. beef at the army.
Information is exchanged at net communities and on the internet where teenage girls are very active, which is women-oriented participation. News posts on portal sites were mostly written by males. Now, it is outstanding that teenage women become in the vanguard of forming public opinions.
Women are relatively more sensitive to the issue of foods. Regardless of the matter of justice or injustice, they were worried about the right to health of their families and friends. Because they are 'sympathetic and care' about their families and friends and they feel it's their generations trouble, teenage girls are very desparate.
The Korean society should learn so many things from public opinions led by teenage girls and from public sentiments made by teenage girls' active participation.
Before, some demonstrators sensitive to violence by policemen were in conflict with the police. But, May 6th, 2008 participants in the rally decided on 'silent candle demonstration.'
2008/05/06 [13:18] ⓒ www.ildaro.com (quoted from: http://www.ildaro.com/sub_read.htmluid=4404§ion=sc3§ion2=)