Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1 Ph.D Min. Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, Department of Practical Theology, Kwangshin University.
2 Ph.D .Min. candidate. Researcher at Institute for Pietatis Theologia, Kwangshin University.
3 Ph.D. student. Researcher at Institute for Pietatis Theologia, Kwangshin University.
4 Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Historical Theology, Department of Church History, Kwangshin University.
5 former Vice President and Dean of Graduate School at Kwangshin University
Abstract
On 1 February, 2021, on the grounds that the 2020 election was fraudulent in nature, Myanmar's military launched a coup and declared martial law, arresting major government leaders. Myanmar citizens have protested the coup through a movement of civil disobedience. The military, in turn, mobilized soldiers and police to curb the protests with force. The U.S. and South Korea immediately demanded that the military release the arrested government personnel, including Aung San Suu Kyi, whose reputation as a peacemaker and Nobel Prize winner had been tarred by her handling of the Rohingya refugee crisis in 2017. Among East Asian countries, South Korea is the only one wherein thousands of people, including President Moon Jae-in, have demonstrated their support for Myanmar's democratic movement. This study aims to understand why South Korea is alone among East Asian countries in their support of Myanmar's democratic movement. Additionally, we will investigate some crucial, socio-political implications underlying this support.
Keywords
Main Subjects
- CBCK News. (2021). “Statement of the Korean Bishops on the Present Crisis in Myanmar.” Retrieved on 11 March from https://cbck.or.kr/en/News/20210148
- Cheon, J. I. (2021). “Nightmare Relived in Myanmar: Same as the May 18 Democratization Movement.” Yonhap News on 11 March. Retrieved from https://namu.news/article/1203911#gsc.tab=0
- Chung, J. K. (2003). “The University Bible Fellowship: A Forty-Year Retrospective Evaluation.” Missiology, 31 (4): 473-485.
- 4. Happy School. (2021). “We will Repay the Grace 70 Years Ago Even Now.” Retrieved on 21 March from https://blog.naver.com/yjhyjhy/222282664077
- Hobagtube. (2021). “[Myanmar] Situation Where Young People Knelt Their Knees in Front of the Korean Embassy.” Retrieved 24 February from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSCmXdArKdY
- Inquirer. (2021) “South Korean Civic Groups Join Forces to Back Fight Against Myanmar Coup.” Retrieved on 9 March from https://newsinfor inquirer.net/1404907/s-korean-civic-groups-join-forces-to
- back-fight-against-myanmar-coup#ixzz6p5oxf8u4
- Ju, Y. J. (2021). “Myanmar's Coup and Korea's Democracy,” Retrieved on 16 February from http://www.kwangju.co.kr/article.php?aid=1613430000714667067
- Kang, M. S, Lee, J. J, Han, W. S, Rheem, S. M, Seok, J. O, Chung, J. K. (2021). “Hallyu in Mongolia: Its Meaning and Socio-political Implications,” Psychology and Education, 58(3):790-801.
- Karen M. Sutter, K. M, Schwarzenberg, A. B, Sutherland, M. D. (2021). “China’s One Belt, One Road, Initiative: Economic Issues.” Congregational Research Service (22 January). Retrieved from https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11735/2
- Kim, J. U. (2021a). “Government Announces First Myanmar Military Sanctions: Prohibit Export of Military Supplies.” Retrieved on 13 March from http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/politics/diplomacy/986617.
- html#csidxb9697680aeb912e9f8eecc98d57484f
- Kim, J. Y. (2021b). “Myanmar Military Coup Summary: the United States and China Move.” Retrieved on 27 March from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDy6YwXl40E
- Kim, K. Y and Chung, J. K. (2021) “A New Church Networking for New Generation: A Case Study of the Changjo Presbyterian Church in South Korea.”International Journal of Future Generation Communication and Networking, Vol. 14, No. 1: 302.
- King, Martin Luther Jr. (1963). “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Retrieved from https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
- Lee, M.J. (2020). “What are Koreans like?” A lecture delivered at Harvard University on 30 July. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-w9KDHCjg0
- News Live. (2021). “Subtle Temperature Differences in Asian Countries During the Myanmar Coup.” Retrieved on 16 March from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_tNn8PdVqQ
- Park, Y. S, Kim, J. U. (2021). “Myanmar Crisis and Democratization Process.” Retrieved from on 5 February https://www.voakorea.com/ world/behind-news/Myanmar-coup-democracy
- Shim, J. H. (2021). “China: Tightrope in Myanmar Coup.” Retrieved from 3 February http://news.zumst.com/articles/65956192
- Shin, J. H. (2021a). “Lawmakers Condemn Myanmar Military Coup, Call for Democracy.” The Korea Herald on 22 February. Retrieved from http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210222000843
- Shin, Y. H. (2021b). “Myanmar Coup and Civil Resistance, Look Like Gwangju in May [1980].” Retrieved 12 March from https://www.beopbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=214770
- Smith, J and Cha, S. (2021). “South Korea to Suspend Defense Exchanges with Myanmar, Reconsider Aid” Retrieved on 12 March from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-myanmar-idUSKBN2B40M8
- Westad, O. A. (2021). Empire and Righteous Nation. Cambridge: Belknap Press.
- Yonhap. (2021). “Moon calls for Release of Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi, Condemns Crackdown on Protests.” The Korea Herald on 7 March. Retrieved from http://www.koreaherald.com/ view.php?ud= 20210307000105
- YTN News. (2021). “Why did the Myanmar Military Initiate a Coup at This Point?”
- Retrieved 2 February from https://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0104_202102021257443791
)