Lightstick protests

Lightstick protests
Part of 2024 South Korean martial law crisis, Winter Bluebird Movement, Protests against the 2026 Iran war, and Gen Z protests in Asia
An example of lightstick protests in South Korea
Date	South Korea 3 December 2024 – 4 April 2026 Taiwan December 2024 – 2025 Japan 27 February 2026 – Ongoing
Location	East Asia: South Korea Taiwan Japan
Caused by	Declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol Declaration of the Three Big Bills in Taiwan Opposition to Sanae Takaichi Efforts to revise Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan 2026 Iran war 2026 amendment of the Imperial Household Law
Result	Success in South Korea Coup d'état attempt by Yoon Suk Yeol failed Impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol Failed in Taiwan Three Big Bills are delayed, but passed anyway after third hearing 2025 Taiwanese mass electoral recall campaigns
Parties
Grassroots movements in South Korea Grassroots movements in Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party Grassroots movements in Japan WE WANT OUR FUTURE Political parties in Japan Japanese Communist Party Yoon administration Ministry of National Defense (MND) Republic of Korea Army Capital Defense Command Defense Counterintelligence Command Korea Defense Intelligence Command Ministry of the Interior and Safety National Police Agency Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Government of Taiwan Kuomintang Taiwan People's Party TPP Government of Japan Liberal Democratic Party

The lightstick protests, alternatively known as a penlight demonstrations is a form of peaceful protest phenomenon in East Asia characterized by the synchronized use of electronic concert lightsticks. The movement originated in South Korea in December 2024 during mass demonstrations against emergency martial law, where youth demographics substituted traditional wax candles with colorful K-pop lightsticks. The tactic subsequently spread to Japan and Taiwan, where it has been adopted by Generation Z activists to oppose government policies, advocate for peace, and protest constitutional reforms. By integrating idol fandom culture into political dissent, the movement aims to lower the barrier to civic engagement and destigmatize public protests. The protests were defined as a direct evolution of candlelight rallies, sometimes called Candlelight Protest 2.0, and as Gen Z protests.