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On the night of December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, prompting immediate public outcry and confusion. The announcement, delivered shortly before 10:30 p.m. local time, triggered swift mobilization among citizens, with crowds converging on the National Assembly within 30 minutes.
What began as a spontaneous gathering rapidly escalated into widespread unrest, as demonstrators clashed with security forces. The protests would continue for months, becoming one of the most significant episodes of civil resistance in recent South Korean history.
The martial law order was lifted by approximately 4:30 a.m. the following morning. However, demands for President Yoon’s resignation, and in some cases, his arrest, continued to gain traction both in the streets and across social media platforms.
In the weeks that followed, protests intensified and spread nationwide. While counter-demonstrations in support of President Yoon also appeared, the scale and persistence of the opposition ultimately culminated in April 2025, when the Constitutional Court upheld Yoon’s impeachment, formally concluding the period of unrest.
Amid the demonstrations, one form of protest stood out for its creativity: parody flags, often whimsical or satirical, that became emblematic of the movement.
Among the protest banners were flags bearing the names of fictional organizations such as the “National Waterbear United,” the “Association of People Who Still Call It Twitter,” the “National Union of Tech Neck Workers,” and the “National Swiftie Union.”
These parody flags quickly became visual hallmarks of the protest movement, blending internet humour, pop culture references, and biting political commentary into succinct, often surreal slogans.
"Even if everyone’s messages and thoughts differ, I find it romantic that they hold flags and stand together in the same place for a shared goal."
Flags have long played a central role in South Korean protest movements, traditionally used by political parties and labour unions to signal collective identity and purpose. The parody flags that emerged during the 2024 demonstrations, however, marked a notable evolution, infusing the visual language of dissent with satire, internet culture, and personal expression.
One online archivist, who operates under the handle 123flagsarchive, a reference to the December 3 martial law announcement, has been documenting these flags to preserve what they view as a meaningful moment in civic participation.
“Even if everyone’s messages and thoughts differ, I find it romantic that they hold flags and stand together in the same place for a shared goal,” they wrote to us.
“The beginning was an attempt by public authorities to suppress it, but the people transformed it into a culture of resistance. As an archivist, I could not simply let these moments slip by. I hope to remember these moments and be able to look back on them in the future.”
According to them, the tradition of parody flags, known in Korean as amugisbal (아무깃발), originated during the 2016 protests against then-President Park Geun-hye, who was ultimately impeached over a wide-ranging corruption scandal.
As public outrage grew and demonstrations intensified, government authorities sought to de-legitimize the protests by suggesting they were orchestrated by outside forces. Supporters of Park claimed that demonstrators were being paid or influenced by pro-North Korean entities, while police reportedly questioned attendees about who had sent or funded them.
In defiance of accusations that they were mobilized by outside forces, protesters in 2016 began carrying flags representing fictional or satirical organizations, an inventive gesture signalling their voluntary participation.
By 2024, that creative tradition had not only endured but evolved. One of the first parody flags documented in the wake of the martial law declaration was a direct callback to 2016: a banner depicting TheIdolmaster character Shin Sato reimagined as a socialist figurehead of the “National Virtual Idol Labor Union.” It appeared just three hours after the announcement, flown by a demonstrator outside the National Assembly.
From that point, parody flags reemerged with renewed intensity. More elaborate, more pointed, and more reflective of the digital-native generation leading the charge.
"I wanted to show that when goodwill comes together, it can create something truly miraculous."
Choi Joong-Won operates flaaags.com, a website dedicated to archiving protest flags submitted by demonstrators.
Explaining his motivation, Choi said, “Once this unrest is resolved, we likely won’t see those flags anymore. Out of a sense of loss, I created an archiving website where the flags can continue to flutter online.”
Choi Joong-Won noted that women in their 20s constitute the largest demographic within the pro-impeachment protests. A December estimate by the Chosun Ilbo supports this, reporting that nearly one-third of demonstrators were young women, the single largest group. This represents a notable shift from 2016, when women in this age bracket accounted for only about 10% of protesters. According to interviews with participants published by the Korean Times, this rise is largely attributed to opposition against the Yoon administration’s perceived anti-feminist policies. Additionally, LGBTQ+ youth joined the protests, driven by similar concerns over rights and representation.
The second largest demographic among protesters were men in their 50s, an almost opposite profile to the young women leading the movement.
“Men in their 50s are people who lived through military dictatorship and the pro-democracy movement,” Choi said, “For them, martial law likely evoked existential fear by resurfacing past trauma.”
In contrast, young men accounted for only about 8% of demonstrators, marking the lowest participation rate. This group is generally more conservative and less engaged with social activism.
Therefore, young women are credited in the media with shaping the protests into a more vibrant, festival-like atmosphere. Many are active in fandom communities and well-versed in internet culture and humour, bringing personal and creative expressions to the movement through references to favourite characters and works.
Compared to 2016, “this time,” Choi told me, “It seems that people aren’t making flags just to counter conspiracy theories. Rather, the culture of treating protests as festive gatherings, the tendencies of people in their 20s and 30s to express their tastes, identities, and political leanings more openly, and the influence of internet communities like X (formerly Twitter), all appear to be major contributing factors.”
This creative expression helped unify protesters around the shared goal of impeaching President Yoon while fostering solidarity among individuals with similar interests. Much like internet fandoms, the protests became a platform where niche subcultures could stand out, explaining the diverse references found on the flags.
Choi Joong-Won noted, “There are probably far more protesters who have seen Marvel movies than those who have read the Korean web novel Be a Light in the Dark Sea. Yet, more flags display fandom for Be a Light in the Dark Sea than for Marvel.”
One protester, known by the pseudonym Milesian, is a fan of the Korean online game Mabinogi. They designed two flags: one referencing the game and another featuring a light stick and a flag, common symbols among the “2030 Women,” a demographic of women in their 20s and 30s frequently spotlighted in media coverage.
Regarding the flags, Milesian explained that while they created the initial designs, the final versions were truly a community effort, shaped by the collective spirit of the rallies. “I wanted to show that when goodwill comes together, it can create something truly miraculous,” they said.
Another notable example is Ha-gil, who carried a flag inspired by the opening line of the ancient Greek epic The Iliad: “Sing, O goddess, the rage.” She adapted it to read, “Sing, the people, the rage.” During the protests, Ha-gil was approached by a middle-aged man, the head of the Institute of Western Classics at Seoul National University, and the two formed a friendship, united by their shared appreciation for Greek classics amid the unrest.
Beyond fostering community and advancing the goal of impeaching President Yoon, the flags conveyed messages that extended far beyond politics. Many highlighted broader social issues perceived as regressive under Yoon’s administration, including feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, labor rights, animal rights, youth rights, and solidarity with Palestine.
“With the impeachment complete and the protests dissipating, there is concern that the various issues expressed through these flags will return to being sidelined, with much less attention than during the impeachment protests, and will need to continue fighting individually,” Choi told us.
One protester, known by the online handle Birot, used their flag to highlight a more specific social issue. The flag reads: “Dongduk Women’s University Alumna in Solidarity with Queers, the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.”
Rather than focusing directly on President Yoon’s impeachment, the flag addresses a recent controversy at Dongduk Women’s University, which faced backlash after announcing plans to go co-ed. Some opposition to the change included transphobic rhetoric. As Birot explained, their flag expresses support for the anti-co-ed protests while firmly standing for LGBTQ+ rights.
To fully understand the symbolism of the protests, it is also essential to examine the role of the Taegeukgi, South Korea’s national flag. This discussion inevitably leads us to the supporters of President Yoon and the counter-protests.
The roots of this divide also trace back to the 2016 protests against then-President Park Geun-hye, when a conservative countermovement emerged, prominently displaying the Taegeukgi. These gatherings became known in the media as the “Taegukgi rallies,” symbolizing a nationalist conservative response.
In 2024, this tradition persisted. Supporters of President Yoon widely displayed the national flag during their demonstrations. However, a notable development occurred on the pro-impeachment side: efforts to reclaim the Taegeukgi.
Both Choi Joong-Won and the archivist at 123flagsarchive reported an increase in the flag’s presence among protesters, though some participants expressed discomfort due to its associations with nationalist movements.
One protester, Milesian, offered a creative alternative: designing a 19th-century version of the Taegeukgi. This design aims to honor Korea’s historical heritage while critiquing the contemporary political use of the flag, signaling a desire to redefine national identity beyond current partisan divides.
Among supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol, American flags and banners backing former U.S. President Donald Trump and the Republican Party were also prominently displayed. This symbolism reflects the longstanding and complex political relationship between South Korea and the United States, which has deep roots dating back to the Cold War. The U.S.-South Korea alliance remains a pivotal factor in Korean politics, exemplified by the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system to counter regional nuclear threats.
Historically, South Korean conservatives have aligned closely with the United States, frequently accusing progressive factions of collusion with North Korea. However, as North Korea’s immediate threat has somewhat receded, conservatives have increasingly shifted their focus, framing progressives as aligned with China in efforts to undermine South Korea’s national interests.
Within this context, a narrative has crystallized portraying the political struggle as a clash between conservatives allied with the U.S. and progressives purportedly supported by China and North Korea. Yoon’s supporters have embraced rhetoric and symbols from the American conservative movement, perceived as tough on China, aiming to strengthen Yoon’s domestic standing and encourage greater U.S. involvement in Korean affairs.
For instance, the “Stop the Steal” slogan, originally popularized by former President Trump amid unfounded claims of election fraud in the U.S., was adopted by Yoon supporters following his own allegations of election fraud, which he cited to justify the declaration of martial law.
Additionally, some supporters of Yoon have been seen flying Israeli flags. “In these unusual cases, the stated reason is often ‘because the left carries the Palestinian flag.’ However, I believe many protesters are simply following the crowd, carrying flags mainly because others do,” explained the individual behind 123flagsarchive.
"I hope that the diverse voices expressed through flags and free speeches in the square will be reflected in the political and social systems."
To end on a lighter note, I asked several interviewees about their favourite flags among the thousands documented. Choi chose opposing flags representing introverts and extroverts. “Just looking at the design, I could sense completely different personality traits,” they said.
The archivist running 123flagsarchive highlighted a popular flag inspired by the manga and anime series Slam Dunk. What made it particularly memorable was its use of LED lights, which quickly drew attention and made it a crowd favourite.
Milesian’s favourites included a large ribbon-shaped banner made from yellow balloons, a tribute to the Sewol Ferry disaster of 2014, as yellow ribbons symbolize remembrance. This unique, banner fluttered gently during the April 2025 anniversary, serving as a poignant symbol.
“The yellow ribbon balloon flag shows that a flag doesn’t necessarily need to be made of cloth and a pole,” Milesian told us.
Another was a parody flag turning the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions into the Korean Confederation of Cat Unions, a playful design first seen in the 2016 protests that left a lasting impression.
“Although the situation was settled with the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, I hope that the diverse voices expressed through flags and free speeches in the square will be reflected in the political and social systems,” Choi said.
For him and others interviewed, these flags represent more than protest symbols, they stand as a testament to the resilience, creativity, and unity of the people, a reminder that even amid unrest, community and culture endure.
Image: ChongDae, CC BY 4.0
