Park Geun-hye supporters hold the Korean national flag during a weekly protest held in front of Daehan Gate of Deoksu Palace in downtown Seoul, Feb. 4. / Yonhap



By Chung Hyun-chae



Park Jang-sun, 32, a member of the Korea Youth Foundation, was bothered when he saw the Taegeukgi, Korea's national flag, carried by conservative groups at a recent counter-protest.



"I was worried young people could misunderstand that the national flag represents those holding conservative views," Park said. "Another sad thing is that I saw many flags being stacked on trash cans after rallies."



The conservative group, Park Sa Mo ― literally meaning people who love President Park ― consists of men and women in their 50s or older, mostly from the southeastern part of Korea, the conservative party's home turf. Starting tiny, the presence of Park Sa Mo at the weekly protests has grown over the weeks.



Many, especially young people, echo Park's opinion.



Oh Se-rip, 23, a college student, believed that the national flag cannot be the exclusive property of a certain party or group. "I think some conservative groups hold the Taegeukgi to claim that their behavior is patriotic," Oh said.



Another college student, Oh Gwan-seok, 24, said the national flag has become a victim of national turmoil.



"Even though they had a pure desire to protect the country, their goal seems to have been distorted," the 24-year-old said.



For Kwon Jae-kyung, 19, who graduated from high school in eastern Seoul this month, finds it hard to understand why conservative groups are using the national flag to communicate their point.



"I read in a book written by a Western philosopher that it is shameful to assert one's opinion with the national flag at the head," Kwon said. "I saw conservative group members holding both the Taegeukgi and U.S. flag at a rally, which was beyond my understanding."



U.S. flags started appearing at a Jan. 21 protest, immediately following Donald Trump's inauguration. This has bothered many U.S. expats, as the counter-protesters also carry signs expressing anti-American ideals such as suppressing free speech of artists and the media.



"Someone snatch that flag from them. They're using it wrong,"a U.S. expat said in response.



"We decided to hold the national flag to blow out the candles that have agitated the public against the regime," a member of Park Sa Mo surnamed Lee said. "We will keep doing this to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution."



Rep. Kim Jin-tae of the ruling Saenuri Party also backed the conservative protest on Thursday. "The candles are already blown out by wind," he said urging fellow lawmakers to join the Taegeukgi rally.