The "Penlight" Protests Spreading from South Korea: Considering Protest Culture in Japan and South Korea
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The protests using "penlights" that spread from South Korea to Japan are drawing attention. In an article by HuffPost Japan, reporters from Japan and South Korea discuss protest culture in both countries and consider its past and present.
In South Korea, citizens have long gathered holding lights to express their views on politics. In particular, the protests from 2016 to 2017, in which large numbers of citizens gathered holding candles, are known around the world. The current penlight protests show that this traditional form of expression in South Korea is spreading among young people and citizens in Japan as well.
On the other hand, it has often been said that many people in Japan feel reluctant to take part in protests. The reporters discuss how differences in the nature of society and in people's ways of thinking in the two countries affect the forms of protest and the ways people participate. The article also raises questions about what role protests can play as a means of changing society.
The forms of protest change with the times and the circumstances of society. By comparing protest culture in Japan and South Korea, this article offers an opportunity to think about how citizens can express their opinions. What kinds of protest forms will emerge in Japan in the future is drawing attention.
Sources: Yahoo!ニュース
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