Gwangju Coalition Against Impeachment: "Martial Law Aimed at Restoring Constitutional Order"

Press Conference Held in Gwangju City Council Briefing Room on the 15th
"A Constitutional Act of Governance... A Decisive Step to Defend Democracy"

The "Gwangju Coalition for Opposing the Impeachment of President Yoon Sukyeol and Protecting Liberal Democracy" held a press conference at 2 p.m. on the 15th in the briefing room of the Gwangju City Council. Photo by Kang Seongsu

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials arrested President Yoon Sukyeol on the morning of the 15th. In response, Kang Hyungu, the Gwangju Party Committee Chair of the People Power Party, along with the "Gwangju Coalition Against President Yoon Sukyeol’s Impeachment and for the Protection of Liberal Democracy" (hereinafter referred to as the "Anti-Impeachment Gwangju Coalition"), urged, "Forces seeking to overthrow the system and anti-state groups must stop destroying liberal democracy."

The "Anti-Impeachment Gwangju Coalition" held a press conference at 2 p.m. that day in the briefing room of the Gwangju City Council, stating, "Due to the parliamentary dictatorship and tyranny of the massive opposition party, state affairs have been paralyzed, social order has been disrupted, and it has become impossible for the administration and judiciary to function normally." They explained, "President Yoon declared martial law, as guaranteed by the Constitution, to correct such tyranny in state affairs and restore constitutional order."

They continued, "The opposition party’s propaganda and agitation for insurrection in order to impeach President Yoon is a massive fraud against the people aimed at overthrowing the system," emphasizing, "Those who support impeachment are the real insurrectionists."

They also stated, "President Yoon’s declaration of martial law was a highly political act of governance and a patriotic decision to protect the rule of law and the liberal democratic system in response to the legislative rampage, impeachment drive, budgetary excesses, and damage to constitutional order and national security by the massive opposition party." They declared, "We oppose the impeachment of President Yoon and announce that we will join all liberal democratic patriotic citizens to defend the liberal democratic system of the Republic of Korea."