Protest by candlelight

A comparative analysis of candlelight vigils in South Korea

Bibliographic Data

ID12890957
AuthorsInjeong Hwang (0009-0005-4930-9767, Sogang University), Charmaine Noelle Willis (0000-0002-0664-6158, University at Albany, State University of New York, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume16
Issue3
Pages260-272
Publication date2020-07-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Civil Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1744-8689 • E-ISSN: 1744-8697
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17448689.2020.1794508
OpenAlexW3049428929
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited11

Protest activist leaders must make a series of decisions about the strategies they use; one such decision is the choice of tactic or performance, often informed by their cultural historic contentious repertoire. In South Korea's contentious repertoire, the use of candlelight vigils has become an increasingly prevalent form of protest tactic. Candlelight vigils have become an increasingly prominent tactic in South Korea’s repertoire over the last two decades, as evidenced by major candlelight vigils in 2002, 2008, and 2016-2017. In this study, we explore the ways in which candlelight vigils as a protest tactic have evolved over time in South Korea. We notably find that vigils emerged as a left-wing protest tactic in 2002, but right-wing protesters began adopting the tactic during the counter-protests opposing President Park Geun-Hye’s impeachment in 2016–2017 (Taegeukgi Giphoei). Additionally, we find that candlelight vigils drew participants from an increasingly wide swath of society over time and average citizens assumed greater organizational roles. This research not only contributes to the literature on South Korean social movements and civil society, but to understanding candlelight vigils as a distinct form of protest and how contentious repertoires evolve over time more broadly

Civil society · Impeachment · Political science · Politics · Repertoire · Asian Culture and Media Studies · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Social Media and Politics

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