City Council: "An Act That Insults 1.45 Million Gwangju Citizens"
10,000 Expected to Rally Against Impeachment on the 15th
Gwangju Emergency Action Protests: "Do Not Tarnish Gwangju"
Citizens attending the 6th Gwangju Citizens' General Rally held on December 14 last year at the special stage in Geumnamro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, are cheering while holding placards. Photo by Song Bohyun
The Gwangju City Council has condemned the conservative group's rally opposing the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol, scheduled for this weekend around Geumnam-ro in Dong-gu, Gwangju, calling it "truly shameless behavior and an act that insults 1.45 million citizens of Gwangju."
On the 13th, Gwangju city council members from the Democratic Party of Korea and independents stated in a declaration, "We absolutely cannot tolerate the rally of pro-insurrection forces."
They emphasized, "We strongly denounce the attempt by pro-insurrection forces to hold a rally in Gwangju, which destroys the constitutional order and incites division and conflict."
The council members said, "The May 18 Democracy Plaza is a historic site inheriting the spirit of citizens who fought for democracy in Korea. It is appalling that they claim to oppose the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol, the ringleader of insurrection who destroyed the constitutional order by declaring illegal martial law, at such a place."
They continued, "The pro-insurrection forces are distorting facts with conspiracy theories about election fraud and are inciting national division and social conflict through extreme remarks and violence. The very act of holding a rally at the May 18 Democracy Plaza is an affront to the spirit of May 18 and an insult to democratic values."
The council members reiterated, "We will fight alongside citizens until the prompt impeachment and severe punishment of Yoon Suk-yeol, who trampled on the constitutional order and democracy, is achieved."
The Gwangju Emergency Action for the Immediate Resignation of the Yoon Seokyeol Regime and Social Reform held a press conference at the May 18 Democratic Square on the 12th, urging, "Let us stop their invasion of Gwangju and protect democracy." Provided by Gwangju Emergency Action
Meanwhile, as large-scale rallies both for and against the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol by citizens and conservative groups are scheduled for the 15th at the May 18 Democracy Plaza and around Geumnam-ro in Dong-gu, Gwangju, concerns over possible clashes are growing.
According to the Gwangju Dongbu Police Station, on that day, the Save Korea National Emergency Prayer Meeting for Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk, organized by the conservative Christian group Save Korea, will be held around Geumnam-ro in Dong-gu, Gwangju. It is known that Jeon Hangil, a Korean history lecturer who has continued to express support for President Yoon, and former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will attend the rally.
On the same day, a rally by the Gwangju Emergency Action, a Gwangju civic group, will also be held.
At a press conference the previous day, Emergency Action stated, "There is a political calculation to attack Gwangju, the birthplace of democratic spirit, to nullify Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment and removal from office, and to use it as a foundation to unite insurrectionist forces. The political intentions of the far-right insurrectionist forces will never succeed." They appealed, "We ask everyone to gather at Democracy Plaza and Geumnam-ro on the 15th to defend democracy in crisis through overwhelming unity and to establish a bridgehead toward a new Korea."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
