Rival protests over South Korea’s impeached President Yoon held in Seoul

Protesters attend a rally in opposition to South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who declared martial legislation, which was reversed hours later, in Seoul, South Korea on December 21, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters

Demonstrators supporting and opposing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held rival protests a number of hundred metres aside in Seoul on Saturday (December 21, 2024), per week after he was impeached over his short-lived declaration of martial legislation.

Mr. Yoon’s presidential powers are suspended however he stays in workplace. He has not complied with varied summonses by authorities investigating whether or not martial legislation, which he declared late on Dec. 3 and rescinded hours later, constituted riot.

He has additionally not responded to makes an attempt to contact him by the Constitutional Courtroom, which decides whether or not to take away him from workplace or restore his presidential powers. The court docket plans to carry its first preparatory listening to on Friday (December 20, 2024).

Saturday’s (December 21, 2024) pro- and anti-Yoon protests have been held in Gwanghwamun within the coronary heart of the capital. There have been no clashes as of 4 p.m. (0700 GMT)

Tens of 1000’s of anti-Yoon protesters, dominated by individuals of their 20s and 30s, gathered round 3 p.m., waving Ok-Pop gentle sticks and indicators with sayings comparable to “Arrest! Imprison! Rebel chief Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol” to catchy Ok-pop tunes.

“I needed to ask Mr. Yoon how he might do that to a democracy within the twenty first century, and I feel if he actually has a conscience, he ought to step down,” stated 27-year-old Cho Sung-hyo.

A number of thousand pro-Yoon protesters, mainly older and extra conservative individuals opposing Mr. Yoon’s elimination and supporting the a restoration of his powers, had gathered since round noon.

“These rigged (parliamentary) elections eat away at this nation, and on the core are socialist communist powers, so about 10 of us got here collectively and stated the identical factor – we completely oppose impeachment,” stated Lee Younger-su, a 62-year-old businessman.

Mr. Yoon had cited claims of election hacking and “anti-state” pro-North Korean sympathisers as justification for imposing the martial legislation, which the Nationwide Election Fee has denied.