Seoul, South Korea – Tensions in the capital soared on Saturday as rival protests emerged in Gwanghwamun, signaling a deep divide in public opinion following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The former president's powers remain suspended as authorities investigate whether his brief declaration of martial law constituted insurrection.
Despite his suspension, Yoon has yet to comply with multiple summonses from investigators probing the martial law declaration made on December 3, which was retracted mere hours later. Furthermore, he has not responded to the Constitutional Court's attempts to contact him, which could determine whether his presidential powers are permanently removed or restored.
In the heart of Seoul, pro- and anti-Yoon demonstrations unfolded just a few hundred meters apart without any reported clashes as of 4 p.m. (0700 GMT). Tens of thousands of anti-Yoon protesters, predominantly in their 20s and 30s, flocked to Gwanghwamun around 3 p.m. They marched to catchy K-pop tunes while waving K-pop light sticks and displaying signs that read \"Arrest! Imprison! Insurrection chief Yoon Suk-yeol.\" Cho Sung-hyo, a 27-year-old demonstrator, expressed his disapproval: \"I wanted to ask Yoon how he could do this to a democracy in the 21st century, and I think if he really has a conscience, he should step down.\"
Meanwhile, several thousand pro-Yoon supporters, mainly older and more conservative individuals, gathered since midday to advocate against Yoon's removal. Lee Young-su, a 62-year-old businessman, voiced his concerns: \"These rigged parliamentary elections eat away at this country, and at the core are socialist communist powers, so about 10 of us came together and said the same thing – we absolutely oppose impeachment.\"
President Yoon had previously justified his imposition of martial law by alleging election hacking and the presence of \"anti-state\" pro-DPRK sympathizers—a claim the National Election Commission has firmly denied.
The ongoing protests reflect a nation at a crossroads, grappling with political instability and the future leadership trajectory of South Korea.
Reference(s):
Rival protests over S. Korea's impeached President Yoon held in Seoul
cgtn.com
