"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, 2024, 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?
