Voices For and Against Arrest Continue Near Hannam Residence... Overnight Rally Until Tomorrow

Gatherings at 400m Distance
No Clashes Amid Police Control

A rally calling for the arrest of President Yoon Seok-yeol and a counter-rally opposing it continued for the third day near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

The "Emergency Action for Yoon Seok-yeol's Immediate Resignation and Social Reform (Emergency Action)" held a rally on the afternoon of the 5th in front of Ilsin Hall near the presidential residence, urging the re-execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon. Since the failed execution of the arrest warrant on the 3rd, they have been holding an overnight rally here. Some citizens stayed despite the heavy snowfall from early morning. Yang Ok-hee, president of the National Women's Farmers Federation, said, "Workers, farmers, and citizens have been guarding the cold asphalt in the middle of winter for 2 nights and 3 days to arrest Yoon Seok-yeol," adding, "We will not stop the tractor engines until the arrest and detention are carried out."

On the morning of the 3rd, as officials from the Corruption Investigation Office entered the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, supporters of President Yoon gathered on the road near the residence in Hannam-dong to hold an anti-impeachment rally. Photo by Heo Young-han

Two members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who were arrested on the spot the previous day on charges of assaulting police officers (obstruction of official duties) and released that morning, also attended and spoke at the rally. They decided to pause the rally briefly and resume it at 7 p.m. They also announced that the overnight rally would continue until the expiration of the arrest warrant on the 6th. As of 5:30 p.m., the police unofficially estimated about 9,000 people were attending the rally. The rally organizers claimed that more than 40,000 people had participated as of 5 p.m.

About 400 meters away from the Emergency Action rally, near Hangangjin Station, a night rally led by conservative groups supporting President Yoon continued. The police separated the rally areas of the pro- and anti-impeachment/arrest groups with riot police vehicles and fences, preventing clashes. As of 5:30 p.m., the police unofficially estimated about 12,000 people gathered at the pro-conservative rally, demanding the nullification of the impeachment and the immediate reinstatement of the president.

They also cheered while watching a video of a statement by Park Jong-jun, head of the Presidential Security Service, who blocked the execution of President Yoon’s arrest warrant. At the "National Sunday Joint Worship" held before the rally, Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon said, "Will you let the Republic of Korea fall to North Korea?" and added, "President Yoon made a 'holy accident.'"