Where Do We is a street photography series that captures the spirit of South Korea’s anti-Yoon Suk Yeol protests, documenting the political crossroads of a nation. These demonstrations were sparked by President Yoon’s surprise declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, in which he accused the Democratic Party (DPK) of subversive activities and conspiring with North Korean communists. The chaos that followed lasted six hours as shocked lawmakers from both parties rushed to repeal the decree. Although legislators successfully lifted martial law, public anger and frustration remained. Citizens from all walks of life gathered in Seoul to demand his resignation. On December 14, he was officially impeached. Protests continued every Saturday for approximately four months, ending on April 4, 2025, when the Constitutional Court upheld President Yoon's impeachment and formally removed him from office.
The demonstrations revealed a mix of raw emotion and surreal calm, with moments when time seemed to speed up and slow down simultaneously in the streets. I witnessed a nation striving for change, where anger transformed into resilience, and resilience led to jubilant celebration. As a Korean American, I often felt disoriented by the pace of breaking news and the constant tension in the air. I used my camera to process the emotional atmosphere I encountered and to follow the shifting expressions of a society confronting itself. These images are more than records of protest. They reflect a deeper, unresolved question: where do we go from here?
The demonstrations revealed a mix of raw emotion and surreal calm, with moments when time seemed to speed up and slow down simultaneously in the streets. I witnessed a nation striving for change, where anger transformed into resilience, and resilience led to jubilant celebration. As a Korean American, I often felt disoriented by the pace of breaking news and the constant tension in the air. I used my camera to process the emotional atmosphere I encountered and to follow the shifting expressions of a society confronting itself. These images are more than records of protest. They reflect a deeper, unresolved question: where do we go from here?
In Chains of Command - A South Korean citizen walks beside a caged effigy of President Yoon Suk Yeol during a pro-impeachment demonstration in Seoul.
Rise Up - A demonstrator raises two protest light wands during an anti-Yoon candlelight rally in front of Gwanghwamun Gate. The gate sits within Gwanghwamun Square, a popular protest site located between historic Gyeongbokgung Palace and several foreign embassies.
From Fandom to Frontline - Youth demonstrators wave K-pop light wands and devices during a nighttime protest in front of the National Assembly, calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s resignation. Light wands, particularly those made for K-pop concerts, became a symbol of non-violence and solidarity during the anti-Yoon protests.
Another Face in the Crowd - A protester wearing a Yoon Suk Yeol mask walks across a busy street amid congestion caused by a nearby anti-Yoon rally in Seoul’s Anguk neighborhood.
Questioning Obedience - Confronting a line of police awaiting deployment in an alleyway near Gwanghwamun Gate, a protester holding a dog in a sling displays a sign calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s ouster.
Waiting Outside the Gates - The anonymous face of a protester appears through the gate of the National Assembly during a spontaneous encore demonstration following the end of the main scheduled anti-Yoon rally.
Looking for a Signal - A police officer alerts another to activity along the route of a pro-impeachment march in Seoul. Police estimated turnout at 42,500, while organizers claimed over 1 million participants.
No Escaping History - Along a street near Gwanghwamun Gate, a protester portrays President Yoon Suk Yeol as a prisoner on the run during Samiljeol, South Korea’s March 1st Independence Movement Day.
Carrying the Past Forward - On March 1st, South Korea’s Independence Movement Day (Samiljeol), pro-impeachment protesters carry portraits of historical independence activists and signs calling for sovereignty and democracy.
Follow Me - Young Koreans dressed as independence fighters wave flags from a bus during a nighttime anti-Yoon march on Samiljeol, South Korea’s annual commemoration of its 1919 movement for liberation. A banner on the bus reads, “Follow me.”
Take Note - A decommissioned city bus parked outside the National Assembly was opened to the public to write protest messages during anti-Yoon demonstrations. Its windows quickly filled with handwritten notes and drawings expressing anger, exhaustion, and unrest.
Rolling Verdict - A mock guillotine featuring President Yoon Suk Yeol’s face is pushed through the streets during a protest march in Seoul. The structure is covered with handwritten demands for his resignation and symbolic punishment.
Tradition in Motion - A protester in traditional pungmul attire performs a sangmo-dori dance in front of a police booth during an anti-Yoon demonstration in Seoul. LEDs illuminate the spinning ribbon (chal) attached to his hat, creating trails through precise neck movements. Pungmul is often incorporated into protests as a form of cultural resistance.
Uplifting Dissent - Protest organizers in Seoul’s Anguk neighborhood distributed free balloons to demonstrators. The balloons carried various messages, including quotes from the South Korean constitution and pointed criticisms of President Yoon, such as: “How could a person turn out like this?!”
Dancing in the Streets - A Buddhist dances to pungmul protest music in the night air on a street adjacent to Gwanghwamun Gate during an anti-Yoon march in Seoul.
Lit Fuse - Accusing President Yoon’s administration of corruption, South Koreans began gathering near Gwanghwamun Gate two weeks before the December 3 martial law crisis.
Burnt Effigy - A day after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment was upheld by South Korea’s Constitutional Court, protesters near Seoul City Hall displayed a burnt pig effigy beneath banners calling for the restoration of democratic governance.
8–0 - A stack of newspapers sits on the platform at Seoul KTX Station the day after South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously upheld President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, formally removing him from office. The headline reads, “8 to 0: President Yoon Dismissed.”