Letters | From Seoul, a message to Hong Kong’s anti-extradition protesters: unity is everything, whatever your political colour

The 2016 marches against then president Park Geun-hye sparked attempts to paint protesters as North Korean supporters
Hongkongers opposed to the extradition bill must resist attempts to divide them, whatever their political differences

Hong Kong extradition bill

Letters

Published: 8:00am, 16 Jun 2019

Why you can trust SCMP

Last summer, I had the opportunity to make friends with some Hongkongers. Back then, my knowledge about the Hong Kong-mainland relationship was quite shallow. I had heard about the “umbrella movement” or the mysterious “abduction” of a billionaire, but I was unaware of the public sentiment toward mainland China.

Thus, I considered people I met in Hong Kong to be “Chinese” rather than “Hongkongers” and kept talking about China to break the ice. I still remember the awkward smiles I received. It took me some time to understand Hongkongers’ complex feelings towards the mainland, and their concerns about the erosion of “one country, two systems”.

Back then, I merely thought they were being overanxious. On Wednesday, watching the brutal suppression of the peaceful demonstration against the extradition bill, I finally understood their fears.

As a foreigner, it would be highly presumptuous of me to elaborate on the problems with the extradition bill. Unfortunately, however, public resistance seems to be the only means to stop the bill’s passage, considering the composition of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council.

Anti-riot police officers restrain a protester on Harcourt Road in Admiralty on June 12. Photo: Sam Tsang

South Korea was in a similar situation in 2016. After the revelation of the scandal surrounding then president Park Geun-hye, a million outraged citizens came out onto the streets, pressuring a passive National Assembly to pass an impeachment motion. I myself was among them. It was freezing winter, but I wanted to be a proud father to my future child. I constantly reminded myself of Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong who said: “I don’t want the fight for democracy to be passed down to the next generation. This is our responsibility.”

During the South Korean vigil, there were some radical claims irrelevant to the impeachment, which enabled the anti-impeachment faction to stigmatise protesters as being pro-North Korea. Despite that, what held the demonstrators together was a strong consensus about the rule of law.

Similarly, the political differences among the Hongkongers who are against the bill can be used as an excuse to distort the essence of the protest, causing discord. What should never be forgotten is the common goal of an autonomous Hong Kong.

I do believe that the mainland will not repeat the mistake of 1989. But, as former US president James Madison said, “There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.” Still, I am confident that any attempt to deceive Hongkongers will fail.

As a citizen of a country that succeeded in democratisation after decades of dictatorship, I express my utmost respect to the brave Hongkongers who occupied the streets on Wednesday. Add oil, Hong Kong!

Jaekyung Park, undergraduate student of international relations, Seoul National University

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