On the afternoon of the 15th, citizens shouted slogans at the 14th "Gwangju Citizens' General Rally" held by Gwangju Emergency Action in the Geumnam-ro area in front of Jeonil Building 245, Dong-gu, Gwangju, calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Seokyeol and the eradication of internal enemies. Photo by Song Bohyun
Civil society organizations in Gwangju held a counter rally on Geumnam-ro, Dong-gu, in response to the Save Korea rally opposing the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol.
The Gwangju Emergency Action for Immediate Resignation of the Yoon Suk-yeol Administration and Social Reform (Gwangju Emergency Action), which is comprised of civic groups in the Gwangju region, held the 14th Gwangju Citizens' General Rally in the Geumnam-ro area of Dong-gu, with approximately 20,000 participants as estimated by the organizers as of 4:30 p.m.
On the same day, near the May 18 Democratization Movement Archives on Geumnam-ro, the conservative Christian group Save Korea held a national emergency prayer meeting opposing the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol.
The Gwangju Citizens' General Rally, which began with a pungmuldan gilnori (traditional percussion parade), proceeded with free speeches, performances, and on-site interviews in order.
Tension heightened in the Geumnam-ro area as the two rallies were held separated by a wall of police vehicles.
At the 14th Gwangju Citizens' General Rally held by the Gwangju Emergency Action for Immediate Resignation of the Yoon Seokyeol Regime and Social Reform in the Geumnam-ro area of Dong-gu, the police blocked the road connecting to the Save Korea National Emergency Prayer Meeting as clashes continued. Photo by Min Chanki
On the side of the pro-impeachment rally, there were occasional incidents where participants from the Save Korea counter-rally crossed over, shouting slogans such as "Arrest Lee Jaemyung," "Oppose Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment," and "May 18 was a riot," inciting disputes that police had to intervene to stop.
Although there were no major physical clashes, as the disputes continued, police erected a barricade on the road connecting the two rallies to block access.
Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung stated, "When I heard that the forces denying the Constitution and inciting rebellion were holding a rally at the May 18 Democracy Square, I immediately blocked it," adding, "Those who plot rebellion and deny the Constitution cannot speak of rallies, protests, or freedom."
Prior to the rally, Gwangju Emergency Action distributed an 'Appeal to the Citizens of Gwangju,' stating, "Forces inciting rebellion are holding a rally on Geumnam-ro, the sacred site of Korean democracy. We apologize for not being able to protect Geumnam-ro,"emphasizing, "The time Geumnam-ro endures today will serve as an opportunity to see what needs to be supplemented to save Korea from the forces inciting rebellion."
At the rally, Hwang Hyunpil, a history YouTuber and head of the History Correction Research Association, was also scheduled to speak on stage.
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