From Concerts To Streets: Since When Did K-Pop Lightsticks Become A Protest Staple?

When it comes to protests, South Koreans have been known to take the peaceful route: It’s a candlelit concert with protesters singing songs of resistance while waving their candles in unison. Such was the case in 2008, when Koreans protested against US beef imports—and in 2016-2017 when Koreans protested in demand of former president Park Geun Hye‘s resignation.

On November 19, 2016, the 4th candlelight protest demanding the resignation of former president Park Geun Hye was held in Gwanghwamun Square and the surrounding areas of Sejongno, Seoul. | Sisa Journal

Now, as carols turned cries for change fill the streets of Seoul in December 2024, South Koreans are holding up their candles once again—be it taper or jar—for President Yoon Suk Yeol‘s impeachment after his six-hour-long martial law left the nation in panic and fear.

🕯🎄🕯
다같이~
🎄탄핵이🎅답이다🎁
🎄탄핵이🤶답이다🕯 pic.twitter.com/VRQweWVWqc

— 촛불행동 (@candlemove) December 5, 2024

So where do K-Pop lightsticks fit into this picture?

Popular Boy Group Lightstick’s Presence At South Korean President Impeachment Protest Goes Viral

It was during the 2016-2017 protests when K-Pop lightsticks became somewhat of a staple at South Korean candlelight protests.

Before then, protesters stuck to taper candles. But when politician Kim Jin Tae of the Saenuri Party (a predecessor of the current ruling People Power Party) commented that “candles go out with the wind,” in an attempt to discourage the protesters and downplay the gravity of the protests…

| @pluisck/X

Candles are just candles. They will all go out when the wind blows. That said, I’d like to point out that people’s minds change like that, too.

— Kim Jin Tae

…Koreans got creative and began bringing sources of light that cannot be blown out.

K-Pop lightsticks, often brighter than candles, became a protester-favorite alongside LED candles and even torches. Fandoms across multiple generations of K-Pop were united, leaving behind iconic pictures like this:

내가 믿는 옳음과 내가 가장 사랑하는 것을 동시에 하는 게 을매나 기분 좋게요? 함 해보면 좋을 경험임 평생 당당한 사랑이 된다

참고로 2016 빠순들의 구호는
“우리가 가진 가장 밝은 빛을 모아” 였음 https://t.co/XcAYSQX6Ac pic.twitter.com/PrkWmGi8EW

— 아란🍊(닫) (@n_aran_ja) December 5, 2024

You have no idea how good it feels to do ‘what I think is right’ and ‘what I love’ at the same time. It’s going to be a great experience. It will make you proud for the rest of your life. For reference, in 2016, the fan girls came together under the slogan, ‘With the brightest lights we have.’

— @n_aran_ja/X

As the weekend approaches, Koreans are gearing up for another fight for democracy. K-Pop fans are promising to lift up their lightsticks bright and proud.

| theqoo

• “Will my Wanna One lightstick turn on? I’m going to go test it out right now.”
• “I bought the Epik High lightstick to bring with me to the concert, but I guess I’m going to be using it before that.”
• “Let’s go, ARMY bomb.”
• “My WINNER lightstick isn’t the brightest, but I’ll bring it.”
• “I’ll bring my King Blade.”

Read more about President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law here:

Why Did South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Declare The 6-Hour Emergency Martial Law?