(DW Chinese) On December 3, 2023, many young people participated in protests supporting South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol after he declared martial law. On January 19, 2024, angered by his detention, citizens stormed the courthouse, leading to the arrest of several students during the "Seoul Western District Court Incident." Such pro-conservative student protests are rare in South Korea's history, as most student protests since 1960 have supported progressive parties.

Historically, students viewed the ruling class as exploiting the masses; however, today's youth are displaying a transformation in their stance towards conservatives. Socio-cultural background shifts play a critical role in this change. Modern young people have grown up during the booming economy of the 2000s, witnessing their parents' prosperous era of change away from extreme poverty.

For instance, Woo Min-chan, a student at Chungbuk National University, expressed confusion as to why progressives blame the conservative leadership for past incidents. They have begun questioning the longstanding progressive government’s “privileged interests,” expressing significant discontent towards the progressive judicial system, especially in how they handled President Yoon's arrest. Furthermore, these students exhibit a more open attitude toward historical grievances with Japan and the United States, focusing instead on geopolitical cooperation. Conversely, their dissatisfaction with China remains particularly strong, regarding it as a pressing political issue.