Nau speak: Korea: Further protests in Insadong

Time: Mid-December, 2016.

Place: Seoul, South Korea- more specifically, in this particular instance, the Anguk-station adjacent Insadong neighborhood.

What: the Park Geun-Hye protests.

In case you missed what was one of the most outrageous and unusual political scandals to rock the world in 2016, that was the time-frame that the standing President of South Korea was uncovered to have deep and possibly traitorous ties with a cult figurehead. The extent of the findings and her collusion were far-reaching and incredible, the charges sounding more like a ridiculous television drama plotline than reality, with severe ramifications and implications for her Presidency. As a result of the shocking news hitting international headlines, scores of Korean citizens took to the streets to voice their disdain, and they did it in style. Despite the streets flooding with upset people and a variety of vehicles it remained largely peaceful, too, with harmonious chants rippling through the crowds, which ranged in age from toddler to senior citizen. The protests went on for quite some time, in different areas of the city, and they grew and grew as the news spread. As of early April, Park Geun-hye has been sentenced to 24 years of prison for her abuse of power, corruption, along with the long list of her other failings as the leader of her country. Ah, sweet justice. Her failures are especially disappointing given that her father was also President of South Korea in his time, though his time was fraught with its own unbelievable dramas like assassination and the beginnings of his daughter's cult connections. Naturally, the trial has had its own share of dramas and conflict surrounding it.

As an American, that falls somewhere pretty safely within the definition of "Millenial", the protests in South Korea were especially interesting to me in this time of turmoil back home. With the Presidential election roiling on and the bitter back and forth of the primary political parties and their pundits, I was more than happy to be outside of the country for the chaos. While I definitely have some opinions about politics, I'm not much keen on them or being around the vehement battles during election years. I've been outside the US for the 2012 election and 2016 election and watched the results with surreal detachment (and utter disappointment in the more recent year's). Coincidence that is not. It's far more enjoyable to watch the fall of democracy from a semi-safe distance, after all. Being there, in the midst of the protests, yet safely removed from the political ramifications was its own surreal experience. I'm grateful for having been able to walk among the passionate people and appreciate the cause and concern from which they were coming from, though. I can't help but wish that protests here at home were half as well organized or respectfully sociable. Despite being composed of disgruntled individuals, the general tone of the protests felt more like a spirited pep-rally than a call to arms.