Cultural Politics of the Visibility : Candle-light Protest, Performance, and Ritual Identity

This paper examines the power relationships, especially the problems of gender politics attached with the power of the state, appeared during the candle-light protest in 2008. What made the reserve army declares to play a role as a protector of protesting citizens during the movement? How and why those mothers wheel baby-carriages participated into the protest is explored in this article. Throughout the paper, we argue that the candle-light protest cannot be approached as an ideal public sphere rather it was a full of patriarchy suppressing freedom of expression among participants during the protest. Ironically, women who came out to protest political authority in Korea were alienated and controlled by colleague citizens. This contradictory practices of resistant movement is explored through ritual theories and performance perspectives.