Amid intensifying and often deadly crackdowns on anti-government demonstrations in Tehran and around Iran, some Iranian residents in Korea are pleading for both Korean government and citizen support for the Iranian people. For Niusha, an Iranian national who has lived in Korea for six years, the current crisis has sparked questions about Korea's role in international affairs. “I chose Korea because I believed in its commitment to human dignity,” Niusha told The Korea Times in a written interview. “But it is shocking to see a G7-level democracy remain silent while our people are being massacred.” She pointed to the stark contrast between Seoul’s caution and the substantive diplomatic actions taken by other major democracies, including Canada, France and Germany, and urged Korea to cut ties with the current regime. “Korea is a country that won democracy through sacrifice,” said Sarah, another Iranian who has lived here for eight years, who asked to be identified using an alias. “For that very reason, I sincerely hope it will neither remain silent nor stand by as a spectator