South Korea's Feminist Reboot: Rethinking the “Radical” Character of the Movement from a Case Study

Abstract

The current South Korean feminist movement, also referred to as reboot, originated in virtual communities in 2015, and then manifested in public space, through protests and performances. The discursive practices of platforms such as Megalia and Womad have impacted the social and media perception that recognizes the movement as radical feminism. Based on in-depth interviews with members of the movement, this paper explores expressions that dissuade the radical depiction of the phenomenon as the only representation. Feminist testimonies reveal strategic use of the radical label to amplify the impact of their demands. However, this discursive practice hides the intersectional projects that question the social structures of gender and, ultimately, legitimizes the homogenization of the reboot.