What We Think
Workers and Students should take to the streets in their masses
〈노동자 연대〉 구독
One way to remove Yoon is through impeachment by the National Assembly. However, even if the National Assembly passes an impeachment bill, the process of finalizing the impeachment process is extremely uncertain and fraught with ominous variables, including the Constitutional Court’s decision.
Therefore, while we support the call for impeachment, we should emphasize that the call for Yoon‘s immediate removal (instant stepping down) from office is more effective.
But more important than whether it be impeachment or immediate removal is the driving force of the movement.
Millions of people need to take to the streets. Last Saturday’s protests showed that is possible. Workers and ordinary people defeated Yoon Suk Yeol‘s military coup, the fourth in modern South Korean history, with their bare hands. Emboldened by this experience, many new people are coming out in the streets every day.
In particular, it is important for more workers and students to participate in the anti-Yoon protests. Workers who feel empowered by political struggles in the streets can also fight in the workplace. Economic strikes by workers for their specific demands (such as higher wages) are most effective in increasing the overall size and militancy of the movement.
When political and economic struggles interact in this way, the movement can grow and deepen. In this regard, it is very encouraging that railway workers are striking for higher wages, more staff, and an end to outsourcing, while also participating in anti-Yoon rallies.
The actions of students are also important. One of the most prominent features of the current anti-Yoon movement is the large number of young student participants. This is different from the last anti-President movement [in 2016-2017] against Park Geun-hye, and is a very important development.
Student street actions can be a catalyst for working-class struggle. The June 1987 protests paved the way for the workers’ mass strike in July-August.
Many students are now taking exams during the day and attending evening rallies. This Saturday, as many students as possible should join the street protests.
The situation is not as easy as it looks and there are some very fierce battles ahead. As the revolutionary Danton of the French Revolution shouted at the end of the 18th century, “Boldness, and again boldness, and always boldness!”