Gwangju and Jeonnam Christian Community: "Martial Law is Treason, Yoon Should Be Arrested"

Emergency Prayer Meeting Followed by Statement at May 18 Democracy Plaza

An emergency united presbytery composed of five presbyteries from Gwangju and Jeonnam is marching with crosses on the 19th in the Yangnim-dong area of Nam-gu, Gwangju, calling for the arrest of President Yoon Seokyeol. Photo by Min Chanki

The Christian community of Gwangju and Jeonnam has argued that President Yoon Suk-yeol should be arrested for insurrection in connection with the 'December 3 Martial Law Crisis,' and that the People Power Party, which enabled this, should also be dissolved.

The Emergency United Presbytery, consisting of five presbyteries from Gwangju and Jeonnam, held an emergency prayer meeting for the current situation at Yangnim Church in Nam-gu, Gwangju, on the 19th. About 200 members of the presbytery attended the meeting, which was divided into two parts: a prayer session for the current situation and a cross procession.

During the scripture reading, verses from Psalms such as "Turn away from evil and do good," and "Seek peace and pursue it with all your strength" were quoted, calling for the arrest of President Yoon and the insurrection forces, as well as the dissolution of the People Power Party.

After the cross procession, they issued a statement at the May 18 Democracy Plaza in Dong-gu, saying, "We witnessed the National Assembly being overrun by armed martial law troops in front of the entire nation," and added, "The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea immediately defined this as an act of national insurrection."

They further stated, "Even if martial law is described as a high-level act of governance, it does not change the fact that it is 'insurrection' and 'an act of national treason.' Those who used the power entrusted by the people to overrun the National Assembly must be arrested and punished immediately."

They also added, "The Democratic Party of Korea must promptly conduct a special investigation into Kim Keon-hee and impeach the corrupt prosecutors," and "The People Power Party, which has made opposition to impeachment its official stance, is no different from those who supported the insurrection. The People Power Party, which aided the insurrection, must be dissolved."