Tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied in Seoul on Saturday, either in support of or opposition to impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, as South Korea continues to grapple with the political fallout of his failed martial law attempt and subsequent impeachment.
The protests coincided with the anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement against Japan’s colonial rule, and come shortly after the Constitutional Court concluded its final hearing on Yoon’s impeachment trial Tuesday. The court is currently deliberating whether to permanently remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.
Rallies led by far-right conservative activist pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon and the conservative Christian group Save Korea began near the Gwanghwamun area in downtown Seoul and Yeouido in western Seoul at 1 p.m. to oppose Yoon's impeachment.
A total of 110,000 people had gathered for the two rallies as of 2:30 p.m., according to an initial police estimate, with people continuing to arrive.
Dozens of lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party attended the rally in Yeouido, including Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, who delivered a message on behalf of the impeached president on the rally stage.
"When the will and the sense of responsibility to defend freedom are lost, communist totalitarianism and populism will take its place," the lawmaker quoted Yoon as saying. "We must fight until the end with that will and sense of responsibility."
At the rally, people carried signs that expressed opposition to Yoon's impeachment and support for his declaration of martial law, while others waved the Korean and US flags, and chanted the impeached president's name.
Meanwhile, a rally organized by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and four other opposition parties took place just 1 kilometer away from the conservative rally in downtown Seoul at 3:30 p.m., calling for Yoon's removal from office.
DP leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung was among the 13,000 people gathered for the rally near Anguk Station, according to a police estimate.
At 5 p.m., protestors were set to stage a march calling for Yoon's ouster in downtown Seoul. Around 100,000 people are expected to be present for the rally, according to the march organizations.
As tens of thousands gathered for the rallies, police have mobilized 6,400 officers and 230 police buses for crowd control.
About 5,000 officers will be stationed in the Gwanghwamun area, while the rest will be sent to maintain order in Yeouido.
Traffic has also been restricted on parts of Sejong-daero in downtown Seoul, as well as parts of Yeoui-daero in western Seoul.
Due to the large number of people gathered in downtown Seoul, subway trains temporarily passed Gwanghwamun Station without stopping, but normal operations resumed at about 3 p.m. (Yonhap)
