“I didn’t order the attack, so which unit decided to attack on its own?”
From the declaration of martial law to the passage of the impeachment motion in the National Assembly, a flood of memes satirizing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has spread through online communities.
On Monday, a satirical post gained traction on several online platforms. The post humorously depicted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un being informed about troops clashing with lawmakers in the South Korean National Assembly and mistaking the martial law troops for North Korean soldiers.
Another meme featured a composite image of Kim Jong Un watching South Korean news with his daughter Ju Ae, with the caption, “I guess it’s okay to start sending trash balloons again now?”
Following Yoon’s declaration of martial law, a photo of Kim Jong Un with a serious expression circulated online with the caption, “What’s going on? I haven’t done anything yet.” This meme sarcastically pointed out the irony of declaring martial law, which is meant to respond to emergencies such as war or national crises, in South Korea on December 3—an event so unprecedented that even North Korea seemed baffled.
Another meme shows Yoon looking tense as he sits across from his Chief of Staff, Jeong Jin Seok, and People Power Party leader Han Dong Hoon. Below the photo, the caption reads, “What did I declare after my second round of drinks last night?” This meme plays on Yoon’s well-known fondness for alcohol, implying that he drunkenly declared martial law.
Memes involving First Lady Kim Keon Hee also surfaced. One widely shared meme showed Yoon and Kim smiling, accompanied by the question, “What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done for love?” with the answer below: “Martial law.”
Another satirical post featured a photo of former President Park Geun Hye pointing at something while appearing to explain it to Yoon. The caption humorously read, “That’s the Seoul Detention Center.”
Park, who was impeached on March 10, 2017, was detained at the Seoul Detention Center on March 31. This meme satirizes Yoon’s impending fate as he faces constitutional court proceedings and investigations following the impeachment motion passed in the National Assembly on Saturday.
The creation and consumption of memes surrounding otherwise somber political events reflect a new form of social activism embraced by the digital generation.
Lee Seung Kwon shared, “I saw these memes on social media. I couldn’t sleep that night because I was anxious after the martial law declaration, but seeing these memes helped me calm down.”
Experts suggest that these satirical memes allow younger generations to resist the limitations on freedom imposed by martial law.
Choi Hang Seop, a sociology professor at Kookmin University, told Newsis, “Memes are a method of social participation chosen by young people to address heavy social issues through lighthearted images and text. By creating these memes, they are pursuing freedom of expression in opposition to restrictions on the press and other freedoms under martial law.”
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