At 1:33 AM on the 15th near Noksapyeong Station
Firefighters responded to the report and extinguished the fire within 10 minutes
About 10 wreaths supporting President Yoon Suk-yeol, set up near the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, caught fire, prompting a police investigation.
On the 15th, Yonhap News reported, citing fire authorities, that around 1:33 a.m. that day, wreaths with messages supporting President Yoon Suk-yeol, set up near Noksapyeong Station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, caught fire. Approximately 10 wreaths were burned or scorched in the fire, but no one was injured.
On the 12th, when President Yoon Suk-yeol announced a national address, wreaths supporting President Yoon lined both sides of the main road in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Heo Young-han
The Yongsan Fire Station received a report of "wreaths on fire" and deployed 14 vehicles and 47 personnel, completely extinguishing the fire around 1:43 a.m., about 10 minutes after the fire started. The police are investigating whether the fire was arson or caused by an accident such as a discarded cigarette butt.
The wreaths placed outside the Presidential Office building first appeared on the 11th. On the first day, there were only about 40 wreaths near the main entrance on the west side of the Presidential Office, but after the national address on the 12th, their number exploded, now estimated to exceed 2,000. The wreaths are spread over a 1.5 km area from the War Memorial opposite the Presidential Office, through the Defense Convention Center, to near Noksapyeong Station. All these wreaths contain messages defending President Yoon's emergency martial law, supporting the president, and criticizing opposition parties. It is known that condolence wreaths criticizing President Yoon are prohibited from being displayed by the Presidential Office.
Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 14th, the National Assembly plenary session was held with all 300 members of both ruling and opposition parties present, and the impeachment motion against President Yoon was passed. The vote count was 204 in favor, 85 against, 3 abstentions, and 8 invalid votes. One hour after the impeachment motion was passed, President Yoon delivered a national address. In the 4-minute 30-second video statement, President Yoon said, "I will never give up," and "I will do my best for the country until the very last moment."
At around 7:20 p.m. on the 14th, the impeachment recommendation document was delivered from the National Assembly to the Presidential Office, suspending all presidential duties. During the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial period, which can last up to 180 days, President Yoon's powers as head of state and head of the executive branch?including ▲commander-in-chief of the armed forces ▲ratification of treaties ▲pardoning, commutation, and reinstatement powers ▲veto power (request for reconsideration) ▲right to submit national referendums ▲proposal and promulgation of constitutional amendments ▲promulgation of laws ▲submission of budget proposals ▲reception of foreign diplomatic envoys ▲administrative legislative powers ▲appointment and dismissal of public officials ▲appointment powers for constitutional institutions?are suspended. Additionally, he cannot convene cabinet meetings, appoint public officials, receive reports from ministries, or issue directives related to state affairs. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will act as the president during this period.
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