The traumatic memories of tension and fear sparked by the brief emergency martial law on Dec. 3 did not lead to significant casualties on South Korea's streets. However, the confusion and uncertainty over how to hold the president accountable intensified in the days leading up to the National Assembly's decisive impeachment vote on Dec. 14. Despite these challenges, the nation witnessed its legislature pass the impeachment motion against the president just 11 days after the martial law debacle — without any violence or casualties.

Massive crowds gathered, but instead of the Molotov cocktails seen in the protests of the 1980s or the solemn candles held during the 2016 movement to impeach former President Park Geun-hye, their hands nothing of the sort.

Instead, participants waved colorful LED K-pop light sticks as they sang along to popular K-pop songs. These light sticks, which typically fill concert venues with a sea of fan devotion for K-pop stars, were easy to carry and durable, according to rally goers. For die-hard K-pop fans, these cheer gear items were among their most treasured possessions.

Music has the power to touch the heart, and one of the reasons K-pop songs gained global popularity is because their lyrics and performances often inspired hope and self-confidence in listeners. This made it unlikely for the rallies to turn violent. While the potential for violence existed, the participants expressed their civic desire to see President Yoon Suk Yeol impeached over the emergency martial law declaration. Reuters described the cheer gear as symbolizing "non-violence and solidarity."

The glowing K-pop cheer lights highlight the significant shift in the civic spirit, showing how peaceful rallies have evolved over the decades. With a sense of relief and discovery, we recognize that this same civic spirit was reflected in the reluctant soldiers who were ordered to enter the National Assembly on the night of Dec. 3, as lawmakers gathered to vote on the impeachment motion against the president. The turbulent history of modern Korean politics has taught the population the importance of democracy, no matter how fragile, and the value of life.

Not only that, both ordinary citizens and well-known figures, such as singer IU, pitched in to cover the cost of food and beverages for many of the pro-impeachment rally participants in Yeouido, where the National Assembly is located. A photo in a local newspaper showed women making "jumeokbap" (hand-rolled rice balls) to share with the people in Gwangju. Meanwhile, supporters of the president had gathered in Gwanghwamun but peacefully dispersed after Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik announced that the impeachment motion had passed with 204 votes in favor and 85 votes against.

Even in Daegu, a city in the southeastern part of Korea known as a conservative bastion, people gathered in groups on Dongseongno, holding up playful banners such as "Impeachment is the answer." The maturity of the Korean citizens shines through as a beacon of hope for the nation's future. At the Dec. 14 rally in Yeouido, where the protestors' side claimed around 2 million participants while the police estimated over 20,000, there was a notable presence of women in their 20s and 30s. A domestic cable news channel, YTN, estimated that three out of 10 attendees were women in these age groups. Their strong political participation has led many observers to view this as a hopeful sign for the country's future.

The rallies have now shifted closer to the Constitutional Court in central Seoul and near Gwanghwamun, with expectations that the respective groups will continue to express their political will peacefully, using intelligent satire and creative, out-of-the-box methods. Both the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea must respond to this evolution of civic spirit. If hope has not yet been found within the halls of the National Assembly, they should look to the people for ideas on how to create a consultative mechanism between the ruling and opposition parties to tackle national challenges. The Korean economy is facing significant uncertainty, which is further compounded by the upcoming second Trump administration in the United States.