A Call to Civic Duty

The 2024 Gwangju Youth Democracy Forum

By Yousra Feriel Drioua

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” On that note, “active citizenship” is a concept we often hear of but one that is rarely fully grasped for what it is or what it stands for. In recent times, the collapse of democracy appears to be a global pandemic sweeping across nations, which is quite alarming. Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe are some of the most prominent and current examples. Not only is the presence of good leaders crucial in such times, but civilians and, more importantly, their involvement in state affairs is even more so.

However, for people to fulfill their duties, they must first understand what their role is and –in the case of civilians – why it is of utmost urgency. Authoritarian regimes love apolitical individuals. Surely, I am bypassing a lot of intricacies of such regimes with this statement. Yet, one cannot deny how threatening politically aware and engaged folks are to such governments. That is why activism in all its forms is vital to democracy. Activism, in simple terms, is the practice of taking direct action to support or oppose a cause, often to promote social, political, or environmental change. Put differently, it is intrinsically linked to the concept of active citizenship, where individuals engage in various forms and levels of civic participation to influence public policies and societal norms.

A form of activism that I’ve partaken of is attending the Gwangju Democracy Forum (GDF). As small – and rather convenient and privileged – an act as it may be, I believe it embodies some principles of active engagement and strategic leadership that are needed to promote democratic values and human rights. I get to unlearn what I was spoonfed by society about how evil politics are and how the young should stray away from it. I also get to redefine what politics means to me and acknowledge my duty as a citizen. Being politically indifferent has never been the answer in seeking justice and freedom.

Each year, Gwangju’s 5.18 Memorial Foundation organizes the GDF. The latter is meant to serve as a knowledge and expertise exchange platform for activists, NGOs, and democratic organizations from all spectrums of civil society. Over the last two years, however, the foundation has made an addition to the forum: a program specifically designed for youth called the Gwangju Youth Democracy Forum, or Y-GDF. It serves the same purpose as the regular forum, except that it does so with youth.

Although the forums take place in May, the recruitment starts as early as March. Except for transportation fees to Gwangju, the Y-GDF is a fully funded opportunity. It targets students from all over Korea, both international and Korean, experienced or not. I believe that is what makes it an enriching experience for those with a newfound passion for democracy or politics in general. I mean, where else would one get the chance to casually run into Walden Bello and talk about the U.S. elections over lunch? The Forum’s programs are incredibly heavy with knowledge-sharing sessions and informative lectures, but it is the dialogues with real civil society members that leave the greatest impact on participants. For Y-GDF participants, it is a chance to feel empowered and motivated to make a change.

The Y-GDF delegates start their program two days before the GDF begins. On the first day, we broke the ice with a game called “Find the M.” Teams followed clues to historical spots in Gwangju, taking group photos to receive the next clue. The first team back to the memorial building won. On the second day, delegates were grouped by region to present a briefing of the country’s history and its ruling party’s timeline, what we deemed as shortcomings and positive attributes – if the latter applied – and finished it off by picking each other’s brains on what was presented. After a lunch break, we were asked to develop plausible solutions for the most persistant and common issues among those discussed.

It’s always interesting to witness how everyone’s individual perspectives and state of affairs differ, yet as teams, they manage to find common ground. All in all, active citizenship and political engagement are more crucial than ever in today’s turbulent times. The Gwangju Youth Democracy Forum exemplifies how young people can be empowered to understand and partake of civic duties. By fostering an environment where youth can learn, discuss, and collaborate, the Y-GDF not only educates but also inspires future leaders.

The Author

Yousra Feriel Drioua is an Algerian who is a Global Korea Scholarship awardee currently residing in South Korea and majoring in media communication and journalism. She loves writing, coffee, and intriguing conversations. She wishes to become someone useful to society and others. Instagram: @myyigli