Civil Society Groups Gather in Front of People Power Party Urging "No Opposition to Impeachment"

Demand for the People Power Party to Join Impeachment Efforts

On the 6th, a day before the vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol in the National Assembly, rallies urging the impeachment of President Yoon were held in various parts of downtown Seoul.

According to Yonhap News, ahead of the candlelight rally held in front of Exit 5 of the National Assembly Station on Seoul Subway Line 9, civic and labor groups gathered in front of the People Power Party’s central headquarters in Yeouido demanded the party’s participation in the impeachment.

Lee Tae-hwan, Senior Vice Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), said, "Yoon Suk-yeol and his cohorts must be punished to prevent such incidents from recurring," adding, "An urgent directive was just issued to defend the struggle today and tomorrow until the end. Our future will be decided. Let’s fight vigorously."

On the afternoon of the 6th, the proposers of the university campus political declaration held a press conference in front of the People Power Party central party office. Photo by Yonhap News

Various groups and students gathered in front of the People Power Party’s central headquarters, raising their voices to join the impeachment. The 'Candlelight Action' stated, "Those who abstain or vote against the impeachment will be recorded in history as eternal traitors," while the 'Parents’ Group Urging Impeachment' warned, "We sternly warn People Power Party lawmakers to support the impeachment."

Eleven organizations, including the National Union of Mediaworkers and the Korea Journalists Association, also held an emergency press conference. They claimed, "If they still oppose impeachment, it means ending their political life alongside Yoon Suk-yeol, the ringleader of rebellion who pointed guns at democracy."

The National Education Public Officials Union and the National School Irregular Workers’ Union, which held general strike rallies in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and Dongwha Duty-Free Shop in Jongno-gu respectively, also called for the resignation of the regime.

Democratic Labor Union members gathered in front of the People Power Party headquarters, shouting for President Yoon Seok-yeol's resignation. Photo by Yonhap News.

Earlier that morning, university students gathered across various campuses in Seoul demanding President Yoon Suk-yeol’s resignation. The ‘Korean University Student Council Joint Forum,’ a coalition of university student councils, also held a joint press conference condemning President Yoon.

Civic groups and labor unions such as the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun), People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, the Military Human Rights Center, and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions announced that on the 7th at 3 p.m., they will hold the ‘Impeach Yoon Suk-yeol for Treason! Realize Popular Sovereignty! Great Social Reform! Nationwide Candlelight March’ on Yeouido Avenue in front of the National Assembly in Seoul.

The Candlelight Action, which has been staging a sit-in in front of the National Assembly main building since the emergency martial law incident, will also hold the ‘118th Candlelight March for Yoon Suk-yeol’s Resignation! Special Prosecutor for Kim Gun-hee!’ at 2 p.m. on the same day near the King Sejong statue in Yeouido Park, then join the candlelight march in front of the National Assembly.