KCTU 'Overnight Rally' and Daegukbon 'Gwanghwamun to Hannam'
Traffic Congestion in the Area... Hangangjin Station Passed Without Stopping for 20 Minutes
Two KCTU Members Arrested in the Act
On the first weekend of the new year, January 4th, large-scale rallies both for and against the arrest of President Yoon Seok-yeol took place in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where the presidential residence is located. This occurred a day after the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (PCC) failed to execute an arrest warrant against President Yoon.
The Emergency Action for Immediate Resignation of Yoon Seok-yeol and Social Reform (Emergency Action) held a rally from 4 p.m. that day, while the Korea Righting Movement Headquarters (Daegukbon), led by Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, held a rally from 1 p.m. at Gwanghwamun. Then, around 4:30 p.m., Daegukbon suddenly moved their rally location from Gwanghwamun in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to Hannam-dong in Yongsan-gu. This was to counter the overnight rally held by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) in Hannam-dong. Pastor Jeon, speaking from the podium, shouted to his supporters, "The KCTU is attempting to enter the presidential residence. We are stopping the Gwanghwamun rally," urging them to move to Hannam-dong.
A rally supporting President Yoon Seok-yeol is being held near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News
This caused the distance between the opposing rallies to narrow, escalating tensions. According to unofficial police estimates, about 35,000 rally participants quickly left Gwanghwamun and took subways and buses to Hannam-dong, causing traffic congestion in the area. The distance between the rally calling for President Yoon's arrest, including the KCTU, and the Daegukbon rally was about 400 meters. In the Hannam-dong area, slogans from both sides such as "Arrest immediately" and "Protect the President" were mixed together.
The KCTU had been holding an overnight rally around the presidential residence for 'one night and two days' since the previous night. Around noon that day, they attempted to march toward the presidential residence, demanding President Yoon's arrest. During this, a physical confrontation occurred with the police over barricades, and two individuals who assaulted police officers were arrested on the spot for obstructing official duties. Afterwards, the KCTU occupied all lanes of the road in front of the presidential residence. The road they occupied was about 200 meters away from the Hannam-dong presidential residence.
On the 4th, members of progressive organizations including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions are holding a rally in favor of impeachment near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Hannam-daero (the section between Hannam Five-way Intersection and Bukhanam Three-way Intersection) was closed to traffic in both directions, and Line 6 trains passing through Hangangjin Station passed without stopping for 20 minutes until 5:41 p.m.
Some supporters of President Yoon and KCTU members shouted at each other across a police human chain barricade and riot police buses. The Yongsan Police Station also broadcast a dispersal warning, urging the KCTU to stop occupying the road.
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