Physical Clashes Erupt into Chaos
Conservatives Call It a 'Festival', Progressives Respond with 'Sighs'
On the afternoon of the 25th, when the Constitutional Court delivered its impeachment ruling on Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, a tense atmosphere hung in front of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul. From around 12 p.m., about two hours before the ruling, civic groups and YouTubers gathered in large numbers. They shouted their respective claims regarding the impeachment and did not hesitate to insult each other, leading to physical clashes that resembled a chaotic battlefield.
On the 25th, conservative groups are opposing the impeachment of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min in front of the Constitutional Court. [Photo by Choi Tae-won]
Tension grew even stronger as the scheduled ruling time of 2 p.m. approached. Around 1:30 p.m., an activist from a conservative group took the microphone and proclaimed, "Far-left YouTubers are drawing attention with the support of 'Gaeddal' (devoted fans). Our people call those who impeached him anti-national forces." This was followed by chants of "Impeachment, dismissal." Conservative-leaning groups such as Shin Jayu Yeondae, Mom Corps, and the Korea Patriotic Patrol Team mainly gathered, and a confrontation occurred near where progressive YouTubers were assembled. When a conservative activist mocked the progressive YouTubers by saying, "You smell like communists," the YouTubers got agitated and retorted, "If we're communists, why don't you report us?"
The crowded space caused inconvenience to passersby. Both outer lanes of the four-lane road in front of the Constitutional Court were blocked by parked police riot squad buses and protest vehicles, and the sidewalks were also packed with participants. Foreigners dressed in hanbok who had come to enjoy the day looked bewildered by the numerous police officers and loudspeaker noise, hastening their steps as if eager to leave the scene quickly.
At around 2:10 p.m., when news came that the ruling on Minister Lee had begun, supporters on both sides started whispering. About five minutes later, reports emerged stating it was difficult to see that the minister violated the Disaster and Safety Management Act, prompting sighs among progressive YouTubers.
Once the impeachment dismissal was confirmed, the emotions of both sides sharply diverged. Conservative groups cheered, shouting, "Now let's go for Lee Jae-myung's arrest!" and sang songs, creating a festive atmosphere. On the other hand, progressive YouTubers expressed despair, saying, "159 people died, and yet impeachment is not happening?how can this be?" The bereaved families of the Itaewon tragedy, preparing for a press conference, could not take their eyes off their phones, wearing expressions of disbelief.
Participants of the assembly and press conference, police officers, and reporters are tangled in front of the Constitutional Court. [Photo by Choi Taewon]
As emotions ran high among the crowd, clashes also broke out between the bereaved families and the police. When the police mistook a bereaved family member trying to enter the press conference venue for a civilian and blocked their entry, the families shouted, "Why are the police blocking the bereaved?" leading to loud exchanges.
After the commotion subsided and the October 29 Itaewon Tragedy Bereaved Families Association began their press conference, an unexpected incident occurred. A conservative group, leaving the scene, mocked the families by singing through speakers attached to their vehicle. Enraged, the bereaved families ran onto the road, blocking the vehicle and resulting in physical clashes. During this process, some family members foamed at the mouth and fainted, requiring urgent transport by ambulance.
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