In the wake of the 12.3 Martial Law, voices calling for the resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol are spreading throughout the university. Declarations and statements criticizing the Yoon’s government have often been made on universities, but with the 12.3 Martial Law, it has become a nationwide phenomenon. CBNU was no exception, with many students participating in rallies in person and calling for Yoon’s resignation through hand-written posters and declarations on campus. A CBT reporter met with students who participated in the rally and the CBNU Student Joint Action representatives for Yoon’s removal to hear their stories.

  Kwon Yu-na (Dept. of Sociology, 22) first became interested in the rally because of the martial law that was declared on the night of Dec. 3, last year. “At the time, I was in the middle of my exams and could not travel directly from Cheongju to Seoul, so I only heard about the Yoon rally on social media, but gradually realized that I needed to be there,” she said. She cites her most memorable moment as her free speech at the Chungbuk Peopleʼs General Election Rally held on Feb. 15, in front of the west gate of the Chungbuk provincial government building. She commented, “While shouting slogans and making prepared remarks on the podium, I realized that I was fulfilling my responsibilities as a citizen of a democratic country.” She also said, “As a member of the CBNU Student Joint Action, it was more meaningful to participate with other classmates,” adding, “We had time to share feedback after making a free speech, and it came as a vivid experience to be able to share opinions in a community with the same purpose.”

  The CBNU Student Joint Action is a student union organization comprised of 50 students, including the former sociology department student council, the Gaesin editorial board of the Central Press Autonomy Organization, and like-minded individuals who have posted on-campus newspapers. Song Min-jae (Dept. of Sociology, 20), the executive chairman of the Student Joint Action Committee, said, “At first, it started with a proposal to hold a joint meeting among students, but then it was launched with the demand and agreement of the participants to create a student community that continues to work until the resignation of Yoon.” The Student Joint Action began by holding the CBNU Student Action Day, a candlelight vigil on campus at Gaesin Cultural Center Square on Dec. 13 (1st Action Day), last year, followed by participating in the Chungbuk Peopleʼs General Election Rally on Dec. 14 (2nd Action Day) and chartering a bus to participate in the rally to oust Yoon in Seoul on Dec. 22 (3rd Action Day). The group also continues to participate in the Chungbuk National Assembly held every Saturday in Cheongju. “Through various activities, we discussed with current students the necessity of removing Yoon’s government and the direction society should take in the future,” said Song Min-jae, the executive committee chairman.

  Ji Jae-lim (Dept. of Electronics Engineering, 21) participated in a rally to impeach Yoon in front of the National Assembly building in Seoul on Dec. 14, last year after the bill to impeach him passed the National Assembly. “I followed the news on social media in real time, and I decided to go to the scene when I saw people running to the National Assembly, staying up all night and fighting for democracy,” she said. “I can still remember the huge number of people who gathered together as one, the flags of the various organizations that participated in the rally, the cheers that erupted when the impeachment bill passed through the National Assembly, and the moment when the rally participants sang Girlsʼ Generation’s Into the New World,” she added, “It was very cold that day, but I felt that society was still warm as I saw participants sharing blankets and hot packs, and food that someone had pre-paid for was delivered to the rally participants.”

  “College students are capable of having political opinions, but they often do not express them. As a result, no politicians are representing their views, and the political sphere does not feel the need to listen to them,” said Kwon Yu-na. “If they share their political opinions and experience the acceptance of their voices by coming out to the public square, they will realize the utility of politics and become involved in politics.” Ji Jae-lim said, “Young people are the generation that will lead not only the current but also the future society, and they play an important role in determining the direction of the country.” “Beyond simply supporting a particular party or politician, it is necessary for them to deeply understand the agenda that affects them and take active actions.” “Rather than relying on fragmented news or extreme online communities, we need to understand the context of the overall agenda and have our political views,” she added. Song Min-jae said, “Many struggles and protests are going on in our society right now.” “The most important thing is to experience them firsthand. The best political action and experience you can have as a student is to participate in a rally.”