"Punishment for the President Who Threatened National Freedom and Human Rights"
On the 10th, the 76th World Human Rights Declaration Day, participants in the youth political declaration to prevent the regression of democracy and human rights held signs calling for the resignation of Yoon Seok-yeol at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Youth participated in a political declaration calling for the impeachment and punishment of President Yoon Seok-yeol amid the emergency martial law situation.
On the 10th, over 30 members from Youth Human Rights Action Asunaro and Youth Human Rights Movement Solidarity Jium announced the "Youth Political Declaration to Prevent the Regression of Democracy and Human Rights" at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. A total of 49,052 youths joined, and including 950 adults aged 19 and over and 123 supporting organizations, the total number of participants reached 50,205. They stated, "This is the first time the scale of a youth political declaration demanding the president's resignation has surpassed 50,000."
In the declaration, the youths said, "Protecting democracy and guaranteeing people's human rights is the president's top priority as the head of the executive branch," and urged, "Yoon Seok-yeol, who is regressing democracy and threatening our freedom and human rights, must step down immediately." They added, "Yoon Seok-yeol must be driven out by all possible means, including impeachment and punishment for treason. Youth will not remain silent."
On the day, Bin-dung, an activist from 'Jium,' said, "We learned at school why military dictatorship must not exist, why democracy must be defended, and why we must know how to stand in solidarity with minorities and fight to protect human rights. We came out to the streets to avoid becoming shameful adults."
In addition to individuals, youth groups and student self-governance groups participated under their names. Among those participating under student council names were the high school student council union 'Blue' from Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, Seongmisan School Student Council, the 35th Student Self-Governance Council Hanbit of Yonghwa Girls' High School, and eight other groups. By region, participants included 8,529 from Seoul, 18,312 from Gyeonggi, 3,620 from Incheon, 1,280 from Gangwon, 1,165 from Chungbuk, 1,553 from Chungnam, 481 from Sejong, 1,227 from Ulsan, 1,175 from Gyeongbuk, 335 from Gyeongnam, 1,363 from Daegu, 3,025 from Busan, 1,481 from Jeonbuk, 840 from Jeonnam, 1,382 from Gwangju, and 717 from Jeju.
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