12·3내란에 저항한 10대의 외침과 미래 민주주의 = Youth Resistance to the December 3 Martial Law Insurrection and the Future of Democracy

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study examines youth political participation and expression during the December 3 insurrection and the subsequent impeachment movement, focusing on young people’s democratic experiences and the social conditions that shaped their participation. While discourse on democratic crisis, far-right politics, and generational politics has expanded following the crisis, scholarly attention to youth participation in protests against martial law and in support of impeachment remains limited. Youth experienced fear and political powerlessness despite the insurrection, while also expressing frustration over political exclusion and a strong sense of democratic responsibility. At protest sites, solidarity and gratitude coexisted with fatigue and an increasing awareness of the need for self-care amid prolonged demonstrations. Family concerns, exam-centered education, and school norms of political neutrality constrained youth political participation. Although students engaged critically with the insurrection through democratic education, literature, and philosophical reflection, opportunities for substantive engagement in schools remained limited. Demands for change also emerged within conservative regional political environments, while collective actions such as youth organizations and public declarations persisted. This study argues that recognizing youth solidarity and cultivating broad social support, alongside intergenerational reflection, are essential for supporting young people’s humanistic reflection and political participation, as well as for imagining the future of democracy.