[Opinion] `Siguk` Declarations

If you look up the word “siguk” in the Korean dictionary, it says, “Present domestic or international political situation.” However, there is no entry for the words, “siguk seoneon,” or “siguk declaration.” According to the point of view, this compound word can be defined differently. Nevertheless, the word is commonly used to refer to a collective way of expressing political opinions, and was created in the process of Korea’s democratization starting from the April 19 Revolution in 1960. Simply put, siguk declarations signified a group of intellectuals, religious figures or non-politicians’ courageous expressions of their concerns on the government’s ignorance of the people’s will and political and social turmoil.

The number of siguk declarations increased sharply around the April 19 Revolution, the Yushin Reform – or “Revitalization of the Constitution” – in 1972, the assassination of President Park Chung-hee on October 26, 1979, a coup d’état on December 12, 1979 and the democratic uprising in June 1987. The siguk declarations symbolized the people’s resistance against autocracy. The national university professors association’s siguk declarations demanding the “return of students’ blood” during the April 19 Revolution played a pivotal role in making President Rhee Seung-man step down. A series of siguk declarations demanding the country’s democratization were also made during the Yushin Reform and the June Democratic Movement when human rights abuses and the dictatorship were major issues. The Myeong-dong Cathedral where many of the siguk declarations were issued was considered sacred ground for the democratic movement.

The siguk declarations were an energy source uniting people longing for democracy. The long list of people participating in the siguk declarations constituted major pressure, even for the military-backed authoritarian government. The June Democratic Movement opened the era of democratization. The mounting number of siguk declarations from various circles, which were triggered by the death of Seoul National University student Park Jong-Chul from police torture, the April 13 Declaration and the death of Yonsei University student Lee Han-yeol from a tear gas bomb shot, also contributed to the June Democratic Movement. Eventually, this helped then-President Chun Doo-hwan adopt the direct presidential election system as his favorite Roh Tae-woo was elected as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Justice Party.

Many organizations have issued siguk declarations since the candlelight vigils over U.S. beef imports started in early May. The Korea Forum for Progress, an organization of senior members of society, including former Prime Minister Nam Duck-woo, also made a siguk declaration to express its concerns over the current crisis. Though siguk declarations have positive implications, an increasing number of people are finding them cliché. Perhaps it is not an appropriate term to use in this era when there is no more authoritarian rule neglecting the will of the people and their fight for democracy.

Editorial Writer Yook Jeong-soo (sooya@donga.com)