They helped oust a president. Now ladies say they’re invisible once more

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4308/live/5c0acdd0-3d08-11f0-8386-d3c36d014131.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4308/live/5c0acdd0-3d08-11f0-8386-d3c36d014131.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4308/live/5c0acdd0-3d08-11f0-8386-d3c36d014131.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4308/live/5c0acdd0-3d08-11f0-8386-d3c36d014131.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4308/live/5c0acdd0-3d08-11f0-8386-d3c36d014131.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4308/live/5c0acdd0-3d08-11f0-8386-d3c36d014131.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4308/live/5c0acdd0-3d08-11f0-8386-d3c36d014131.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4308/live/5c0acdd0-3d08-11f0-8386-d3c36d014131.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images A demonstrator wearing a black cap, black-rimmed glasses and white jacket, tears up after the constitutional court ruled to uphold Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. She holds a placard that reads "Impeach him now!" and is surrounded by other protesters. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures Girls performed a key function within the protests main as much as the impeachment of South Korea's former president Yoon Suk Yeol

An Byunghui was in the midst of a online game on the night time of three December when she realized that the South Korean president had declared martial regulation.

She could not fairly consider it - till the web blew up with the proof. The shock announcement from then-president Yoon Suk Yeol, the now-famous pictures of troopers breaking down the home windows of the Nationwide Meeting and MPs scaling the partitions to power their approach into the constructing so they might vote the movement down.

Inside hours, hundreds had spurred into protest, particularly younger ladies. And Byunghui joined them, travelling tons of of miles from Daegu within the south-east to the capital Seoul.

They turned up not simply because Yoon's choice had alarmed and angered them, however to protest towards a president who insisted South Korea was freed from sexism - regardless of the deep discrimination and flashes of violence that mentioned in any other case.

They returned week after week because the investigation into Yoon's abuse of energy went on - and so they rejoiced when he was impeached after 4 dramatic months.

And but, with the nation set to elect a brand new president on 3 June, these very ladies say they really feel invisible once more.

The 2 major candidates have been largely silent about equality for girls. A polarising topic, it had helped Yoon into energy in 2022 as he vowed to defend males who felt sidelined in a world that they noticed as too feminist. And a 3rd candidate, who's in style amongst younger males for his anti-feminist stance, has been making headlines.

For a lot of younger South Korean ladies, this new identify on the poll symbolises a brand new combat.

"So many people felt like we have been attempting to make the world a greater place by attending the [anti-Yoon] rallies," the 24-year-old school scholar says.

"However now, I'm wondering if something has actually improved… I can not shake the sensation that they are attempting to erase ladies's voices."

The ladies who turned up towards Yoon

When Byunghui arrived on the protests, she was struck by the ambiance.

The bitter December chilly did not cease tens of hundreds of girls from gathering. Huddling inside hooded jackets or below umbrellas, waving lightsticks and banners, singing hopeful Okay-pop numbers, they demanded Yoon's ouster.

"Most of these round me have been younger ladies, we have been singing 'Into the World' by Ladies' Era," Byunghui says.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/2b2f/live/d52e55a0-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/2b2f/live/d52e55a0-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2b2f/live/d52e55a0-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/2b2f/live/d52e55a0-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/2b2f/live/d52e55a0-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/2b2f/live/d52e55a0-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/2b2f/live/d52e55a0-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2b2f/live/d52e55a0-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Protesters wave K-pop light sticks as they take part in a protest against the president outside the National Assembly on December 08, 2024 in Seoul" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures Scenes from anti-Yoon protests which went on for weeks...

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a9ba/live/5f0e7760-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a9ba/live/5f0e7760-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a9ba/live/5f0e7760-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a9ba/live/5f0e7760-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a9ba/live/5f0e7760-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a9ba/live/5f0e7760-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a9ba/live/5f0e7760-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a9ba/live/5f0e7760-3df9-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A woman wearing spectacles dabs her cheek with a tissue, seeming to tear up at a candlelight vigil to protest against South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol. She is holding a white candle." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures as protesters held marches and vigils demanding his impeachment

Into the World, successful from 2007 by considered one of Okay-pop's largest acts, grew to become an anthem of types within the anti-Yoon rallies. Girls had marched to the identical track almost a decade in the past in anti-corruption protests that ended one other president's profession.

"The lyrics - about not giving up on this world and dreaming of a brand new world," Byunghui says, "simply overwhelmed me. I felt so near everybody".

There aren't any official estimates of how lots of the protesters have been younger ladies. Roughly one in three have been of their 20s or 30s, in line with analysis by native information outlet Chosun Day by day.

An evaluation by BBC Korean discovered that girls of their 20s have been the biggest demographic at one rally in December, the place there have been 200,000 of them - virtually 18% of these in attendance. As compared, there have been simply over 3% of males of their 20s at that rally.

The protests galvanised ladies in a rustic the place discrimination, sexual harassment and even violence towards them has lengthy been pervasive, and the gender pay hole - at 31% - is the widest amongst wealthy nations.

Like in so many different locations, plummeting start charges in South Korea too have upped the stress on younger ladies to marry and have kids, with politicians typically encouraging them to play their half in a patriarchal society.

"I felt like all of the frustration that has constructed up inside me simply burst forth," says 23-year-old Kim Saeyeon . "I consider that is why so many younger ladies turned up. They needed to precise all that dissatisfaction."

For 26-year-old Lee Jinha, it was the will to see Yoon go: "I attempted to go each week. It wasn't simple. It was extremely chilly, tremendous crowded, my legs harm and I had plenty of work to do… nevertheless it was actually out of a way of accountability."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/e28f/live/39c9cbf0-3d11-11f0-aa24-d1c64c46ace6.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/e28f/live/39c9cbf0-3d11-11f0-aa24-d1c64c46ace6.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e28f/live/39c9cbf0-3d11-11f0-aa24-d1c64c46ace6.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/e28f/live/39c9cbf0-3d11-11f0-aa24-d1c64c46ace6.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/e28f/live/39c9cbf0-3d11-11f0-aa24-d1c64c46ace6.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/e28f/live/39c9cbf0-3d11-11f0-aa24-d1c64c46ace6.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/e28f/live/39c9cbf0-3d11-11f0-aa24-d1c64c46ace6.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e28f/live/39c9cbf0-3d11-11f0-aa24-d1c64c46ace6.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Lee Jinha Lee Jinhaa seen holding a red poster with white writing on it calling for Yoon's impeachment. She is waving a blue balloon in the air, while her friend stood beside her is also holding a blue balloon." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Lee Jinha Lee Jinha with a buddy at a protest, holding a poster calling for Yoon's impeachment

That's not shocking, in line with Go Min-hee, affiliate professor of political science at Ewha Girls's College, who says Yoon had the repute of being "anti-feminist" and had "made it clear he was not going to assist insurance policies for younger ladies".

There have been protests on the opposite aspect too, backing Yoon and his martial regulation order. All through, many younger South Korean males have supported Yoon, who positioned himself as a champion of theirs, mirroring their grievances in his presidential marketing campaign in 2022.

These males take into account themselves victims of "reverse discrimination", saying they really feel marginalised by insurance policies that favour younger ladies. One that's typically cited is the necessary 18 months they have to spend within the navy, which they consider places them at a extreme drawback in comparison with ladies.

They label as "man haters" these ladies who name themselves feminists. They usually have been on the coronary heart of a fierce on-line backlash towards requires higher gender equality.

These teams have lengthy existed, principally out of the general public eye. However through the years they moved nearer to the mainstream as their traction on-line grew, particularly below Yoon.

It was them that Yoon appealed to in his marketing campaign pledges, vowing to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Household, saying it centered an excessive amount of on ladies's rights.

And he constantly denied systemic gender inequality existed in South Korea, which ranks close to the underside on the problem amongst developed international locations.

However his message hit dwelling. A survey by a neighborhood newspaper the yr earlier than he was elected had discovered that 79% of younger males of their 20s felt "severely discriminated towards" due to their gender.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/d4e7/live/350adc10-3e08-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/d4e7/live/350adc10-3e08-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d4e7/live/350adc10-3e08-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/d4e7/live/350adc10-3e08-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/d4e7/live/350adc10-3e08-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/d4e7/live/350adc10-3e08-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/d4e7/live/350adc10-3e08-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d4e7/live/350adc10-3e08-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A young man in black jacket and a cap waves the South Korean flag in one hand, while holding a light stick in another. Behind him are people holding red light sticks and also waving South Korean flagsat a pro-Yoon rally on Yon 10 January, 2025." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures Yoon's supporters, together with younger males who really feel more and more disenfranchised, rallied in protection of his choice to impose martial regulation

"Within the final presidential election, gender battle was mobilised by Yoon's get together," says Kim Eun-ju, director of the Middle for Korean Girls and Politics. "They actively strengthened the anti-feminist tendencies of some younger males of their 20s."

Throughout Yoon's time period, she says, authorities departments or publicly-funded organisations with the phrase "ladies" of their title largely disappeared or dropped the reference altogether.

The impression has been polarising. It alienated younger ladies who noticed this as a rollback of hard-won rights, even because it fuelled the backlash towards feminism.

Byunghui noticed this up-close again dwelling in Daegu. She says anti-Yoon protests have been overwhelmingly feminine. The few males who got here have been often older.

Younger males, she provides, even secondary college college students, would typically drive previous the protests she attended cursing and swearing at them. She says some males even threatened to drive into the gang.

"I puzzled if they'd have acted this manner had the protest been led by younger males?"

The battle to be heard

With Yoon gone, his Folks Energy Occasion (PPP) is in disarray and nonetheless reeling from his fall.

And that is the primary time in 18 years that there isn't any girl among the many seven candidates runnning for president. "It is stunning," Jinha says, "that there is no-one". Within the final election, there have been two ladies amongst 14 presidential candidates.

The PPP's Kim Moon-soo is trailing frontrunner Lee Jae-myung, from the primary opposition Democratic Occasion (DP). However younger ladies inform the BBC they've been upset by 61-year-old Lee.

"It is solely after criticism that that there have been no insurance policies concentrating on ladies that the DP started including a number of," Saeyeon says. "I want they might have drawn a blueprint for bettering structural discrimination."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/b2cd/live/35b07dd0-3dfb-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/b2cd/live/35b07dd0-3dfb-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/b2cd/live/35b07dd0-3dfb-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/b2cd/live/35b07dd0-3dfb-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/b2cd/live/35b07dd0-3dfb-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/b2cd/live/35b07dd0-3dfb-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/b2cd/live/35b07dd0-3dfb-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/b2cd/live/35b07dd0-3dfb-11f0-a945-5b44c8087f1f.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Lee Jae Myung dressed in a blue jacket over a white shirt smiles and makes a thumbs up gesture with both his hands raised up" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures Lee Jae-myung, the primary opposition candidate, is the frontrunner within the race

When he was requested in the beginning of his marketing campaign about insurance policies concentrating on gender inequality, Lee responded: "Why do you retain dividing women and men? They're all Koreans."

After drawing critcism, the DP acknowledged that girls nonetheless "confronted structural discrimination in lots of areas". And it pledged to deal with inequality for girls with extra sources at each degree.

Throughout his presidential bid in 2022, Lee was extra vocal concerning the prejudice South Korean ladies encounter, searching for their votes within the wake of high-profile sexual harassment scandals in his get together.

He had promised to place ladies in high positions within the authorities and appointed a girl as co-chair of the DP's emergency committee.

"It is evident that the DP is focusing considerably much less on younger ladies than they did within the [2022] presidential election," Ms Kim says.

Prof Go believes it is as a result of Lee "misplaced by a really slim margin" again then. So this time, he's "casting the widest web attainable" for votes. "And embracing feminist points is just not an excellent technique for that."

That stings for younger ladies like Saeyeon, particularly after the function they performed within the protests calling for Yoon's impeachment: "Our voices aren't mirrored within the [campaign] pledges in any respect. I really feel a bit deserted."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/5e35/live/b04f1320-3e0b-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/5e35/live/b04f1320-3e0b-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5e35/live/b04f1320-3e0b-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/5e35/live/b04f1320-3e0b-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/5e35/live/b04f1320-3e0b-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5e35/live/b04f1320-3e0b-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/5e35/live/b04f1320-3e0b-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5e35/live/b04f1320-3e0b-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A row of six women stand under umbrellas on a road holding placards that read "democracy won" in Korean. A crowd can be seen behind them." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures Girls who led protests towards Yoon and celebrated his impeachment say they really feel ignored on this election marketing campaign

The ruling get together's Kim Moon-soo, who served in Yoon's cupboard as labour minister, has emphasised elevating start charges by providing extra monetary assist to folks.

However many ladies say rising prices usually are not the one impediment. And that the majority politicians do not deal with the deeper inequalities - which make it laborious to stability a profession and household - which might be making so many ladies rethink the same old selections.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Household, which Yoon had needed to close down, has additionally re-emerged as a sticking level.

Lee has vowed to strengthen the ministry, whereas Kim says he'll exchange it with a Ministry of Future Youth and Household.

The ministry already focuses on household providers, schooling and welfare for youngsters. Slightly below 7% of its whole funding, which is about 0.2% of the federal government's annual price range, goes in the direction of bettering equality for girls. However Prof Go says the ministry was "politicised by Yoon and has since been weaponised".

"The ministry itself is just not big nevertheless it's symbolic… abolishing it might present that gender equality is unimportant."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/6512/live/31477600-3e09-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/6512/live/31477600-3e09-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6512/live/31477600-3e09-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/6512/live/31477600-3e09-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/6512/live/31477600-3e09-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/6512/live/31477600-3e09-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/6512/live/31477600-3e09-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6512/live/31477600-3e09-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Three women pushing fluffy dogs sat in dog strollers while walking on a pavement in Seoul. The woman in the centre is dressed in a blue cap and looking down at her phone while the other two, in jeans and sweats, are looking ahead." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures South Korea has one of many world's lowest start charges, with many ladies selecting to not have kids

It is also the goal of a 3rd candidate, 40-year-old Lee Jun-seok, a former chief of Yoon's get together, who has since launched his personal Reform Occasion.

Though trailing Kim in polls, Lee Jun-seok has been particularly in style with many younger males for his anti-feminist views.

Earlier this week, he drew swift outrage after a presidential debate through which he mentioned: "If somebody says they need to stick chopsticks in ladies's genitals or some place like that, is that misogyny?"

He mentioned the "somebody" was frontunner Lee Jae-myung's son, who he claimed made the remark on-line, an allegation which the Lee camp has sidestepped, apologising for different controversial posts.

However watching Lee Jun-seok say that on dwell TV "was genuinely terrifying," Byunghui says. "I had the scary thought that this would possibly enhance incel communities."

Saeyeon describes "anger and even despair" sinking the "hopes I had for politics, which weren't that nice to start with".

She believes his reputation "amongst sure sections of younger males is among the "important repercussions" of South Korea "lengthy neglecting structural discrimination" towards ladies.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/3669/live/e1f525a0-3e0a-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/3669/live/e1f525a0-3e0a-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3669/live/e1f525a0-3e0a-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/3669/live/e1f525a0-3e0a-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/3669/live/e1f525a0-3e0a-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/3669/live/e1f525a0-3e0a-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/3669/live/e1f525a0-3e0a-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3669/live/e1f525a0-3e0a-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Lee Jun-seok dressed in a white shirt is holding and talking during a campaign stop at Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea, on May 30, 2025." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures Lee Jun-seok, as soon as a PPP chief, is now operating for workplace as a candidate of the Reform Occasion

The one candidate to handle the problem, 61-year-old Kwon Younger-gook, did not fare effectively in early polling.

"I am nonetheless deliberating whether or not to vote for Lee Jae-myung or Kwon Younger-gook," Saeyeon says.

Whereas Kwon represents her considerations, she says it is good to shore up the votes for Lee as a result of she is "way more afraid of the following election, and the one after that".

She is considering Lee Jun-seok, who some analysts consider may eat into the votes of a beleagured PPP, whereas interesting to Yoon's base: "He's within the highlight and because the youngest candidate, he may have a protracted profession forward."

That's all of the extra cause to maintain talking out, Byunghui says. "It is like there may be mud on the wall. If you do not know it is there, you may stroll by, however when you see it, it sticks with you."

It is the identical for Jinha who says issues can "by no means return to how they have been earlier than Yoon declared martial regulation".

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/f45b/live/71774ac0-3e04-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/f45b/live/71774ac0-3e04-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f45b/live/71774ac0-3e04-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/f45b/live/71774ac0-3e04-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/f45b/live/71774ac0-3e04-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f45b/live/71774ac0-3e04-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/f45b/live/71774ac0-3e04-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f45b/live/71774ac0-3e04-11f0-9c86-919ba9abf877.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A girl dressed in a poncho stands under an umbrella looking up smiling. Stood behind her are women who are also using umbrellas to shield themselves" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures The ladies the BBC spoke to mentioned the protests towards Yoon supplied them hope, which they nonetheless maintain on to