By LiCAS.news
SOUTH KOREA – A Consolata missionary who has lived in South Korea for 30 years has expressed that the country is at a crossroads, with its people determined to protect democracy amid political turmoil.
“There is a general unrest among the population: after the impeachment and arrest of the President, there is a feeling of uncertainty and waiting for a solution to a matter that could take several more months,” said Father Diego Cazzolato, speaking to Vatican’s Fides News Agency.
“But one thing is clear: Koreans want to protect the achievements of democracy at all costs,” the priest added.
Based in Daejeon, Father Cazzolato described how the political crisis has reignited painful memories of South Korea’s authoritarian past.
“Immediately after the declaration of martial law, a general mobilization took place in all Korean cities,” he said. “People, especially adults and the elderly, were immediately reminded of the painful events of 1980.”
The priest reflected on the grim history of the Gwangju Massacre, a pivotal moment when military forces brutally suppressed demonstrations against the Chun Doo-hwan dictatorship, which had come to power following a coup in 1979.
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