College students (and more) come together to protest against privatization and censorship

All over Korea, people (mainly driven by college students) are holding protests and putting up handwritten posters against the privatization of railroads and health care. The theme of the protests are handwritten posters with the phrase "I am not okay" to drive home the point of society being censored and pressured into staying quiet/passive when asked questions like "How are you?".

One sociology major said, "Our society has difficulty differentiating between what is 'different' and what is 'wrong'. We tend to overlook what is 'wrong' to be 'different'. We need to be able to tell the government that it is 'wrong' to dismiss railroad union members for disagreeing with the privatization. I am here today because I refuse to stay silent. I hope that we will all be okay."

Another student said, "Our college demands that we remain oblivious to issues regarding our government and society. We're all just as frustrated (with this censorship) so I'm here today to say that I am not okay."

Others said similar things to the line of, "I have to block the privatization of the railroads for my life to be okay", "I am not okay because I am embarrassed to have my child born in this country", "I am not okay because our society has taken away my right to express my anger towards injustice", "Is a society just when I need to be brave just to have my voice heard?", "I am not okay because I live in a society that censors me"...

SHINee's Jonghyun also changed his profile picture to a handwritten poster by a political science student who wrote that she was not okay because of society's homophobia towards her being a bisexual transgender (examples listed are Kim Jo Kwang Soo's wedding registration being rejected, the government trying to change school textbooks to include arguments against homosexuality, and the failure to illegalize discrimination).

Translation of parts I found impactful:

<I am not okay no matter what name you call me by> "Yes, I am a sexual minority. I am a male to female transgender and bisexual. I am a woman. I am part of a generation struggling with employment. By what other names could you possibly call me by? It would be endless to list them all here. It is not only me, however, who lives on being called all sorts of names today.

But as of this moment, I am not okay no matter what name I am called by. I am not okay with a Korean society that cannot illegalize discrimination, that treats the discrimination against sexual minorities as a fact of life, that promotes misogyny, that treats the younger generation as its slave, that forces college students to focus not on their education but on their employment. By what name could I be called in order to be okay?

Someone asked us this: how are you? How am I? Are we all okay with feeling relieved that another's pain is not my own, with covering our ears and closing our eyes to protect our lives? How can we be okay in a world that censors us?

I am not telling all of you to flood out into the streets and throw bricks. I am simply asking that when you are asked if you are okay today, to look around at the expressions of the faces of the people around you and call out their names. I feel that as the world gets lonelier, the answer to us all being okay lies closer to one another. Please ask the person beside you. How are you?"

After finding out that Jonghyun set it as his profile picture, the student tweeted, "SHINee's Jonghyun put my poster as his Twitter profile picture... I'm at a loss for words. I can't believe it even with my own eyes. I'm a SHINee fan from today on."

Article: SHINee's Jonghyun joins 'How are you?' changes his profile Twitter picture

Source: OSEN via Naver

1. [+268, -21] It's something difficult to do as a public figure, very amazing of him

2. [+251, -16] I think Jonghyun put the focus of his action on promoting equality, not necessarily politics. Not only as a celebrity but as an idol.. I think it's amazing that he participated in something like this. It's rare to see an idol use Twitter for right things lately. Truly amazing.

3. [+214, -12] What an amazing person... I'm learning something from him today.

4. [+185, -6] Seems like a person with a healthy and definite view on life. I agree with the saying that being different is not wrong.

5. [+184, -7] A difficult decision as a singer.. but I'm really proud of him!!

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Source: Naver + Instiz

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1. [+8,256, -647] Please lend your ears to what they have to say.. I am not okay with not being able to be where my friends, seniors, and juniors have come together.

2. [+7,448, -531] Find strength. You are our hope. Continue moving forward.

3. [+6,811, -474] Show that Korea is not dead.

4. [+6,434, -448] I am against the privatization!

5. [+5,312, -345] Fighting!!!!

6. [+1,866, -109] And yet in the news, I do not even see the word 'how' of the question 'how are you?'...

7. [+1,690, -113] As a college student myself, I feel so proud and support the railway walkout and the students!! There are handwritten posters at my college as well, and more are planning to be put up on Monday!

8. [+1,676, -115] Who can be okay in this administration. So proud of our youth.

9. [+1,611, -78] Why isn't this in the news?

10. [+1,594, -81] I had hoped for the news to pick up on this protest but even the internet is trying to bury it. Find strength everyone.

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