Gwangju Citizens: "Thanks to Yoon, We Become Democracy Fighters at Night"

Over 1,000 People Shout 'Immediate Impeachment' at 5·18 Minju Plaza
'Special Guests' An Hojae and Kim Seungpil Also Join Rally

Citizens attending the Gwangju Citizens' General Rally held on the 11th at the 5·18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju, are shouting the slogan "Impeach Yoon Seok-yeol immediately." Photo by Song Bohyun

"By day, an ordinary office worker; by night, a democracy activist."

On the 11th at 7 p.m., over 1,000 citizens along with the Gwangju Emergency Action for the Resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol Regime held a "Citizen Rally Demanding the Impeachment and Arrest of Yoon Seok-yeol and the Dissolution of the People Power Party" at the May 18 Democratic Square.

Citizens attending the rally held placards with phrases such as "Stop the Provocation of the Second Martial Law Localized Conflict" and "Arrest the Rebel Leader Yoon Seok-yeol," shouting slogans like "We can no longer tolerate this. Impeach Yoon Seok-yeol immediately."

The rally site resembled a concert venue. When K-POP and other popular songs played, participants sang along to lyrics rewritten to fit the impeachment movement. While some citizens held candles, the majority of the younger generation waved light sticks. These light sticks are products commonly used by fans attending K-pop idol singer performances.

A high school girl participating in the rally said, "In the past, I held a candle, but now I hold a light stick that won't go out even in the wind," adding, "I will participate until the day Yoon Seok-yeol is impeached so that I can enjoy my university life peacefully next year."

A citizen who rushed to the rally right after work said, "Because of Yoon Seok-yeol, an ordinary office worker becomes a democracy activist every night. It reminds me of my university days in the 1980s," and added, "I fervently hope the impeachment bill passes this week."

Two special guests took the stage during the open speech session. The first speaker was Ahn Ho-jae, son of the late Police Commissioner Ahn Byung-ha, who refused to use force against citizens during the May 18 Democratic Movement in 1980 and protected the people of Gwangju. He said, "Before my father passed away, he left a message like a will. One phrase was, 'Thank you to the residents of Jeonnam Province and the citizens of Gwangju.' The citizens of Gwangju protected him," and he deeply bowed before the citizens.

Next, Kim Seung-pil, son of Kim Sa-bok, the real-life protagonist of the film Taxi Driver, took the microphone. The film Taxi Driver is based on the true story of German journalist J?rgen Hinzpeter, who exposed the truth of the May 18 Democratic Movement that the military regime tried to hide, and the hidden helper, taxi driver Kim Sa-bok. Kim said, "The lifting of martial law does not mean it is over. The rebel leader remains in place, and those who sympathized with him remain as well," appealing, "We must hold them accountable for treason so that such monsters are never created again."

Meanwhile, the Emergency Action group announced that they are preparing a large-scale Gwangju citizen general rally with over 10,000 participants on the entire Geumnam-ro road at 4 p.m. on the 14th.

Citizens attending the Gwangju Citizens' General Rally held on the 11th at the 5·18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju, are holding hand signs and cheering sticks. Photo by Song Bohyun