Prominent political scientists worldwide have nominated South Korean citizens who thwarted the 12·3 martial law for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Prominent political scholars across the globe have recommended the citizens of South Korea, who played a crucial role in preventing the 12·3 martial law, as candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize. Professor Kim Eui-young from Seoul National University revealed in an interview that several former and current presidents of political science associations at the International Political Science Association (IPSA) conference held in Seoul last year suggested the nomination to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Among the nominators are notable figures including Pablo Onate, Professor of Political Science at the University of Valencia in Spain, David Farrell, Professor at University College Dublin in Ireland, and Azul Aguirre, current president of the Latin American Political Science Association.
The IPSA, established in 1949 under the sponsorship of UNESCO, holds its conference every two years to discuss and promote political science worldwide. During the Seoul conference's keynote address, President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the significance of democracy, stating that while ancient Greece symbolizes democracy, a new model of democracy is rising from Seoul. He noted that the citizens of South Korea overcame the armed coup attempt without shedding a drop of blood, demonstrating their commitment to democratic values. President Lee further asserted that the people who peacefully overcame an unprecedented crisis in democracy genuinely deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.
Describing the citizens' efforts to thwart the martial law as a 'Revolution of Light,' the nomination reflects the symbolic act of citizens taking to the streets with light sticks as a display of support for democracy. This movement has been seen as a global model for the willingness to defend democratic ideals. Initially, the nomination proposal by Professor Lee Sung-hoon of the Sungkonghoe University aimed to include specific groups and officials but was later refined to focus on the collective citizenry to avoid misunderstandings and represent a broader, unified stance for democracy.
