Candlelight demonstration participants receive human rights award in Berlin

Posted on : 2017-12-07 17:24 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
A survivor of the Sewol ferry disaster accepts the prize from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation
Niels Annen
Niels Annen

“My hope is this will become a true country that considers people first, not money.”

Jang Ae-jin, a survivor of the Sewol ferry sinking that claimed the lives of hundreds of her Danwon High School classmates, shared her feelings at the auditorium of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Berlin on the evening of Dec. 5. Jang was attending the ceremony on behalf of the 17 million South Korean candlelight demonstration participants, who were honored with the foundation’s 2017 Human Rights Award.

“There were no injuries and no arrests at the candlelight demonstrations, and that is because everyone was united under one mind,” she said.

Jang was initially calm in relating her experience with the Sewol tragedy, but her tears eventually started to flow. She concluded her remarks with a message to two departed Danwon classmates named Min-ji and Min-jeong.

“It’s because of you that I was able to accept this award,” she said. “When spring comes again, I will do my best so that you don’t suffer. I miss you a lot. I hope you’re doing well.”

Around 100 overseas Koreans, exchange students, and other residents of Berlin attended the event honoring South Korea’s “candlelight citizens” with the globally prestigious Human Rights Award. Attendees watched a documentary by the foundation on the candlelight demonstrations and spent time reflecting on their significance. On the reason for its selection, the foundation explained that “freedom of peaceful assembly is essential to thriving democracy,” adding that the candlelight demonstrations in South Korea had “shared this important fact with the citizens of the world.”

Foundation chairman Kurt Beck said he was “deeply moved” in talking to the awardees.

“I vividly sensed that South Koreans claiming their own destiny is a real phenomenon,” he said.

Beck also explained that Germans sympathized especially deeply with the South Korean demonstration because of “our own experience with candlelight demonstrations in East Germany leading to peaceful reunification in 1989.”

“Even if it runs into obstacles with the interests of different powers amid the Korean Peninsula’s division, we hope the South Korean government gains strength from the fact that it has an awakened public behind it,” he added.

Niels Annen, a Social Democratic Party member of the Bundestag, said the candlelight demonstrations “paved the way to democracy.”

“All of you have contributed greatly to achieving democracy. You showed that democracy is not limited to voting,” he said by way of congratulation.

In addition to the award ceremony, a discussion was also held on the South Korean “candlelight revolution” last year. Korea Alliance for Progressive Movement co-chair Park Seok-woon said South Koreans had “changed administrations through a citizens’ movement” and noted that “meaningful reforms are being attempted,” but added that “people still don’t sense the change in their own lives.”

“The efforts to eradicate deep-rooted vices and achieve major reforms have been slow to progress. The candlelight struggle needs to be fulfilled as a candlelight revolution,” Park said.

Also attending the ceremony that evening was Japanese military comfort woman survivor Gil Won-ok, who was in Berlin to donate funds for female refugees from Africa.

By Han Ju-yeon, special contributor in Berlin

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

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