Citizens Gathered at Gwangju 5·18 Democracy Square Demand "Impeach Yoon"

Over 2,000 Gather at 5th Citizens' Mass Rally
"We Will Stay on Site Until the Day of Impeachment"

On the 8th, citizens attending the 5th Gwangju Citizens' General Rally held at the 5·18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju, are shouting the slogan "Impeach Yoon Seok-yeol Immediately." Photo by Song Bohyun

Voices calling for President Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation echoed once again on the 8th at Gwangju 5·18 Democracy Square.

The Gwangju Emergency Action for the Resignation of the Yoon Suk-yeol Regime and about 2,000 citizens held the 5th general rally at 5·18 Democracy Square from 4 p.m. that day. A total of 120 civic and social organizations from the Gwangju area participated in the rally.

The Gwangju Emergency Action stated, "The 'orderly early resignation' demanded by the People Power Party is absurd," and added, "The People Power Party has refused the people's order to immediately impeach Yoon Suk-yeol, the ringleader of the rebellion. The People Power Party, which sympathized with the rebellion, must be disbanded."

Citizens wore scarves and received hand warmers prepared on one side of the venue to endure the cold. Families with young children, as well as teenagers and university students, attended the rally in large numbers. Each held handmade placards and repeatedly shouted slogans such as "Impeach Yoon Suk-yeol."

On the 8th, citizens attending the 5th General Rally at the 5.18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju, are holding placards and shouting slogans. Photo by Song Bohyun

Four students in the third year of middle school said in unison, "We came to make sure Yoon Suk-yeol is impeached." They added, "Democracy and the economy are collapsing in every aspect because of President Yoon Suk-yeol. We middle school students believe that if we take to the streets first, many adults will join us, and we wanted to set a good precedent by attending."

A female student in her first year at Chosun University attended after creating an acrostic poem of eight lines with the phrase "Impeach Yoon Suk-yeol." She said, "After the martial law was declared, I was so angry that I wondered what kind of placard to make, and then I wrote an eight-line acrostic poem based on the phrase 'Impeach Yoon Suk-yeol.' I will stay at the site until the day he is impeached."

A citizen who attended the event with two young children said, "On the way to the rally, I noticed an exhibition of Han Kang's book 'The Boy is Coming' at Jeonil Building 245 across the street, which gave me a subtle sense of d?j? vu," adding, "I hope tragic history does not repeat itself. I came holding hands with my children to raise awareness about this."

A citizen attending the 5th General Rally of Citizens held at the 5.18 Democracy Square on the 8th is holding a handmade sign. Photo by Song Bohyun

At the 5th Citizens' General Rally held on the 8th at the 5·18 Democracy Square, a young brother and sister attended holding hand signs. Photo by Song Bohyun.

Meanwhile, senior figures from Gwangju's civic society are scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. on the 9th at Gwangju Jeonil Building 245 to announce their stance on the current situation, including the declaration of martial law and the failure of the presidential impeachment motion.

A representative of the Gwangju Emergency Action stated, "Since the impeachment crisis is not over, the rallies will continue."