December 3: The Birth of SE-ACT Amid Korea’s Democratic Crisis (Part 1)
SE-ACT and the social enterprise Run Coffee served 2,000 cups of free coffee to citizens attending the rallies in December 2024. (Source: SE-ACT) For anyone living in South Korea , December 3, 2024 is a day that will not be forgotten. It was an ordinary evening — until unexpected breaking news shook the entire country. Then-President Yoon Suk-yeol abruptly declared martial law — a measure rarely seen in modern democratic nations. Many citizens felt confusion, shock, and fear. The sudden presence of armored vehicles and armed soldiers in downtown Seoul intensified the collective panic. Some citizens rushed straight to the National Assembly . Young people working in the social and solidarity economy (formerly “ social economy ”) also knew they could not stay still. One activist who ran to the site recalled: “There were already countless citizens gathered in front of the National Assembly. Police were blocking access, and people were tryin...