Poongmul in Current President Yoon Protests in South Korea

If you have been following the news in South Korea, you may know how President Yoon declared martial law on 12/3/2024 for political gain, throwing the country into chaos. Although the martial law was lawfully lifted via a vote by the National Assembly, its effects are far-reaching. South Koreans flood the streets every weekend, gathering in Seoul to protest President Yoon’s actions and to demand consequences for those responsible. So far, the President has been impeached, has been arrested, and undergoing trial for insurrection in the Constitutional Court.

Mini concerts, speeches, K-pop lightsticks, banners, and flags are symbolic of peaceful protests in South Korea in the modern day. Oftentimes, poongmul is included! As poongmul is perhaps the most accessible and mobile traditional Korean musical heritage, it is best suited for the streets where marches happen. In protests, poongmul is often symbolic of the voices of the people because it was music traditionally practiced by farmers and commoners of Korea instead of the powerful and privileged.

In the video below, flagbearer 여현수 (Yeo Hyeon Soo) showcases 기접놀이 (“Gijeob Nori” - flag performance) with a poongmulpae during the protest march. While flag performances developed all over the country along with poongmul, this specific form of large flag (~7m tall!) performance is from the Jeonju area. It requires strength, balance, and the ability to read the wind. Yeo Hyeon Soo learned poongmul for the first time in college, like most of us! After college, he trained to become a full-time poongmul performer. He comes to the protests with his own hand-made flag that says “the country belongs to the people” (like “of the people, by the people, for the people”).

https://x.com/myoungjin25/status/1872960584653914321

Performance #1

https://x.com/ganada59/status/1872930644789166222

Performance #2 - notice the poongmulpae in the back!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWV8imYns5k

Performance #3 marching - taepyeongso and poongmulpae visible

https://x.com/honssi_0218/status/1883084636487864794

If you are curious about current events in South Korea, I recommend these articles!

• Staff defending the building and military assault teams clash at the National Assembly during martial law (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2ugTLO9-p8 

• AP News at the protest scene after impeachment (video) https://apnews.com/video/south-korea-yoon-suk-yeol-impeachment-han-duck-soo-rafael-wober-b632bd085bbd4994b2d4d2b74ab137ae 

• Impeached S Korean president charged with insurrection

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr53r1d0jz4o