Seoul Public Forum

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한국어

• [Seoul]

  Conspiracies, Conspiracy Theories & Marxist Critique

  02 July(Thu) 2026, 7:30pm

  Speaker:

  Choi Il-bung (Member of the steering committee, the international coordinator of Workers’ Solidarity)

  Venue:

  Seoul Kyowon Tour Bldg. B4 (5 min. walk from Exit. 5 Jonggak Stn.)

  Hosted by

  Workers' Solidarity groups in Seoul

  Conspiracy theories today are not bizarre superstitions confined to the fringes of society. They represent a mindset operating at the very heart of contemporary politics, popular culture, internet subcultures, far-right movements and even mainstream politics.Recently in South Korea as well, the far-right has seized upon the ballot shortage during the local elections to expand the influence of election fraud conspiracy theories.We propose to discuss on how to view such conspiracy theories from a Marxist perspective.

  

Past Seoul Public Forums

• [Ended] [Seoul]

  Amid the impeachment conflicts :

  Rethinking Democracy

  09 January(Thu) 2025, 7:30pm

  Speaker:

  Choi Il-bung (Member of the steering committee and international coordinator of Workers' Solidarity, author of Russian Revolution: Hope and Defeat, co-author and editor of Capitalist State: A Marxist Perspective)

  Venue:

  Seoul Kyowon Tour Bldg. B4 (near Exit. 5 Jonggak Stn. / 258 Gwancheol-dong, Jongno District, Seoul)

  Hosted by

  Workers' Solidarity groups in Seoul

  When Yoon Suk-yeol, who constantly preached about liberal democracy, staged a coup, many ordinary people took to the streets to defend democracy and successfully thwarted it. The parliament, which passed the motion to lift martial law, elevated its standing, but still is a place where Yoon's defenders remain firm in its position which stands in stark opposition to public sentiment. What is democracy? How can we protect the democratic rights we have won through struggle and achieve true democracy?

  
• [Ended] [Seoul]

  Movements to Remove Yoon Suk-yeol & Workers' Struggles

  11 December(Wed) 2024, 7:30pm

  Speaker:

  Choi Il-bung (Member of the steering committee and international coordinator of Workers' Solidarity, author of Russian Revolution: Hope and Defeat, co-author and editor of Capitalist State: A Marxist Perspective)

  Kim Munseong (Journalist for Workers’ Solidarity newspaper, co-author of Moon Jae-in Administration’s Betrayal of Candlelight movement’s Hope for Change)

  Venue:

  Seoul

  SK Telecom PS&M Bosingak store, 2F (near Exit. 5 Jonggak Stn. / 6 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno District, Seoul)

  Hosted by

  Workers' Solidarity groups in Seoul

  Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law in a surprise move, but only to lift it in the face of resistance. It was an attempt to suppress political opponents by force as his plummeting of popular support fueled a surge in the movements to remove Yoon. But angry ordinary people thwarted his plan for now. Is Yoon finished? Despite this failure, Yoon and the right wing are not going to abandon their reactionary attempts. We will discuss how we should fight back and how we move forward the struggles.

  
• [Ended] [Seoul]

  ISLAMOPHOBIA – A Prevalent Form of Racism Today

  24 October(Thu) 2024, 7:30pm

  Speaker:

  Choi Il-bung (Member of the steering committee and international coordinator of Workers' Solidarity, author of Marxism and Religion, editor of Strategies and Tactics in the Struggle Against Oppression.)

  Venue:

  Seoul Kyowon Tour Bldg. B4 (near Exit. 5 Jonggak Stn. / 258 Gwancheol-dong, Jongno District, Seoul)

  Hosted by

  Workers' Solidarity groups in Seoul

  There is a widespread prejudice that views muslims as fanatics or as potential or actual terrorists. It is argued that Western values are rationality, individual freedom, and women's rights, while Islamic values are primitiveness, violence, and sexism. Not only the right-wing but also many liberals and even some leftists consider Islamism as a kind of right-wing ideology.Islamophobia has intensified in the West over the past 30 years, and now the situation is becoming similar in South Korea. We'll look at what is problematic about Islamophobia, where it originates, why it is increasing, and why we must oppose it.