By Kim Hong-chul
It has now been 173 days since the Constitutional Court of South Korea annulled an attempted political insurrection by reaffirming the authority of the democratically elected National Assembly. Yet, the return to normalcy has been anything but simple. One must wonder whether what we previously called “normal” was in fact a mirage—merely the illusion of order, distorted by the entrenched privileges of a powerful few.
I recall standing in Gwanghwamun Square amid a biting wind, alongside fellow members of the National Security Forum Cheongunmanma, calling for the impeachment to be upheld. It was a moment we thought inevitable, yet its achievement was hard-won. Since then, however, the ordinary assumptions of justice and lawfulness have been steadily eroded. The belief passed down through generations—that “the law is always just”—has crumbled in the face of a judiciary seemingly governed by internal hierarchies rather than the rule of law.
Is it truly possible that such democratic backsliding could unfold in what is considered the world’s 10th largest economy?
And yet, amidst a compromised legal structure, there remain individuals of principle. Their defiance thwarted a brazen attempt to manipulate electoral outcomes. But in a legal culture where authority is absolute and dissent rare, how long can their courage endure? Even more disturbing is the fact that large segments of the public, under the banner of “conservatism”, continue to support the very institutions undermining democratic integrity.
Restoring honour to the Korean Military and seeking peace in Northeast Asia
As a former general and now a professor and columnist, I cannot see such actors as conservatives in any meaningful sense. To me, they crossed a line long ago. One must ask—what did they witness on 3rd December? Did they not see armed interference with the legislature and the symbolic turning of weapons against the citizenry? Have they forgotten that this election is taking place in the shadow of insurrection?
The speed at which our democratic institutions appear to be deteriorating seems to mirror the descent of public reason.
Yet democracy offers one powerful remedy: the ballot. If, as former presidents have insisted, the “organised power of awakened citizens” and the “conscience that acts” are mobilised, then injustice can be countered through democratic means. Thankfully, we are not without a worthy leader.
Lee Jae-myung is a man forged by adversity—a former child labourer who has overcome disability and profound personal loss. As a public servant, he has built hospitals, opened parks, and stood firm in the face of relentless disinformation. He walks the alleys of Korea’s towns and cities, listening not to the powerful, but to the people. He possesses a rare combination of empathy, resilience, and administrative expertise—across legislation, the judiciary, governance, and defence.
He is, in every sense, prepared to lead. As of 4th June, he is ready to serve the nation.
Now is the time for citizens to unite behind him—to transform disillusionment into hope, and fear into resolve.
For the past 15 days, I have travelled with Cheongunmanma, supporting the Democratic Party’s campaign across the country. Most recently, at Cheongnyangni Station in the heart of Seoul, I stood alongside thousands of citizens and prominent leaders—Members of Parliament, former Navy Admiral Boo Seok-jong, former Policy Director Lee Jong-hwa, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Choi Hyun-guk. In their expressions, and in the chants of the crowd, I sensed an undeniable yearning for change.
We want a nation where the people are sovereign, where nights are peaceful and daily life secure. We want a flourishing economy that can lead on the global stage—defended by a capable and principled military. Above all, we want to ensure that no future generation endures the trauma of democratic collapse.
And so we shout—not as an empty cry, but as a promise.
Let 3rd June mark the beginning of that promise fulfilled.
About Author: Kim Hong-chul is Retired General, Columnist, and Professor of National Security in South Korea.
