Seoul National University Divided Over Statement Calling Israel a "Racist Terror State"

Statement in the Name of Nodongjayeondae Youth Student Group
Yonsei, Korea, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Hongik, Myongji University, etc.
"Are You Asking Us to Join Terrorism?" vs "There Is Original Sin"

As the armed conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas continues, statements supporting Palestine have been posted on university campuses in South Korea, sparking heated debates among students.

On the 12th, according to university circles, statements supporting Palestine under the name of the "Workers' Solidarity Youth Student Group" were posted on bulletin boards at campuses including Korea University, Myongji University, Seoul National University, University of Seoul, Yonsei University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and Hongik University.

The Workers' Solidarity also held an emergency rally the previous day at Cheonggye Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, urging solidarity with Palestine.

A statement supporting Palestine posted on a bulletin board near the Seoul National University Central Library
Photo by Yonhap News

In the statement, the Workers' Solidarity Youth Student Group said, "Hamas's attack is a legitimate resistance against Israel's attacks and massacres," and added, "Korean youth and students should also send solidarity and support to Palestine."

They continued, "Israel was established in 1948 through large-scale massacres and expulsions of Palestinians, an act of ethnic cleansing, and has consistently maintained a racist segregation policy," and stated, "Resistance against Israel, regardless of the method, is the legitimate right of the Palestinian people."

They further said, "Hamas's attack is also a response to the recent intensification of Israel's atrocities. Last week, Israel attacked refugee camps," and added, "The arrows of Palestinian resistance are aimed at the oppressive state of Israel and the Western imperialism that supports it. Korean youth and students should also send solidarity and support to Palestine."

The statement also declared, "Resistance against Israel, regardless of the method, is the legitimate right of the Palestinian people," and "Hamas's attack is a response to the increasingly severe atrocities by Israel."

After the contents of the statement became known, similar debates continued on online communities. On the university student online community 'Everytime,' critical posts appeared such as "Shouldn't posters supporting Palestine be removed?" and "It's practically a poster encouraging participation in terrorism."

Criticism of the statement supporting Palestine posted on the university student online community 'Everytime'
[Photo by Everytime]

Also, on the anonymous Seoul National University community Everytime, a post stating, "While Hamas is indeed despicable, I absolutely cannot shield (support) Israel," wrote, "From lobbying for the partition plan of Palestine to the Middle East war land grabs, and the failure to implement the Oslo Accords, the more I examine the history of this region, the more I cannot shake the fact that the Palestinian issue is Israel's original sin."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.