'Anti-Impeachment Rally for Yoon' Held at Geumnam-ro in Gwangju

About 50, including conservative YouTuber Ahn Jungwon, join rally on the 8th
Placards read "Frequent impeachments are rebellion"
Gwangju Emergency Action group says, "Outraged by continued agitation"

Conservative YouTuber Jung Kwon An, originally from Boseong, Jeonnam, is speaking at an anti-impeachment rally for Yoon Seokyeol on the afternoon of the 8th near Geumnam-ro street by Jeonil Building 245 in Gwangju. On that day, Jung claimed, "President Yoon's martial law is a legitimate act of governance guaranteed by the constitution." Photo by Song Bohyun

A rally opposing the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol was held in the downtown area of Geumnam-ro, Gwangju.

On the afternoon of the 8th, about 50 people, including conservative YouTuber Ahn Jungwon from Boseong, Jeonnam, held a rally against the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol on Geumnam-ro Street near Jeonil Building 245 in Gwangju.

Participants at the rally waved placards with slogans such as "Come back! Yoon Suk-yeol," "Frequent impeachments are rebellion," and "Budget cuts are terrorism."

On the afternoon of the 8th, an anti-impeachment rally for Yoon Seokyeol was held on Geumnamro Street near Jeonil Building 245 in Gwangju. Photo by Song Bohyun

Kim, one of the attendees, said, "We are also citizens of this country. It is legitimate to voice opposition to impeachment in Gwangju as well," and questioned, "Why did Mayor Kang Gijung of Gwangju refuse to approve the use of the May 18th Democracy Square?"

Ahn, who led the rally, argued, "President Yoon's martial law is a legitimate act of governance guaranteed by the Constitution." He added, "Lecturer Jeon Hangil will be coming next Saturday (the 15th), so we held this rally in advance to heighten the atmosphere."

A citizen attending the 7th Gwangju Citizens' General Rally for the Immediate Resignation of Yoon Seokyeol, held at the May 18 Democratic Square last December, is holding a placard. Photo by Song Bohyun

On the same day, the Gwangju Emergency Action for the Immediate Resignation of the Yoon Suk-yeol Regime and Social Reform issued a statement saying, "Forces defending rebellion have declared that they will hold rallies justifying Yoon Suk-yeol's illegal martial law at the May 18th Democracy Square and Geumnam-ro until next weekend," and added, "We are outraged by the attempt to invade the May 18th Democracy Square and Geumnam-ro, which are imbued with the spirit of Gwangju citizens, and to continue agitation justifying Yoon Suk-yeol's unconstitutional and illegal martial law."

The statement continued, "The attempt by far-right extremists to degrade Gwangju, the sacred ground of democracy, into a filthy means of making money and a platform for inciting rebellion will never succeed," and added, "Rather, it will serve as a fuse that ignites the great struggle of the people of Korea to root out the forces of rebellion that still survive and operate in our society."

Meanwhile, lecturer Jeon Hangil, who has been attending rallies opposing the impeachment of President Yoon while raising allegations of 'election fraud conspiracy' against the National Election Commission, will visit Geumnam-ro in Gwangju on the 15th.

This rally, in which Jeon will participate, is organized by the conservative Protestant group Save Korea. The organizers submitted a rally notification to the police, stating that a rally opposing the impeachment of President Yoon will be held at 2 p.m. on the 15th in the Geumnam-ro area of Dong-gu, Gwangju. According to the organizers, about 1,000 people are expected to attend the rally that day.