Looking back at the candlelight protests of 2008, South Korea: Reflection on its multiple implications and lessons

Abstract

This article revisits and critically explores the candlelight demonstrations of 2008 in South Korea through several interconnected interpretive angles. The candlelight protests emerged in early May 2008 and continued for over three months, mainly in the capital city of Seoul and other major cities. This mega event was ignited by the sudden resumption of importation of US beef products, which had been banned since 2003 due to fear of the ‘mad cow disease’. The Lee Myung-bak government lifted the ban out of political and economic considerations at the expense of public health concerns. Tens of thousands of people, including youngsters, women, urban professionals, civic groups, intellectuals and ‘netizens’ participated the demonstrations. What was distinct about this historic event was the unconventional forms of alliances and vibrant networked actions of voluntary concerned actors, who creatively generated street rallies, horizontal networks, inventive tactics, and galvanized popular support. Such embodiments of political mobilization and coalitional will from below were carried out by the extensive use of information technologies as well as the sharing of various discursive resources and charged emotions. This article attempts to illuminate the various formative and contextual factors surrounding this mega event, its key implications, achievements, limits, as well as hard-earned lessons.