Nine Organizations Including the General Student Council Condemn 'Insurrection Support'
Student Counter Rallies Continue at University Main Gate
On the 27th, the Chonnam National University Student Council, the University Labor Union, and seven other organizations from Chonnam National University held a press conference in front of the Sports Center at the back gate of Chonnam National University in Buk-gu, Gwangju, shouting slogans such as "Internal pro-rebellion forces should no longer damage Gwangju and Chonnam National University." Photo by Min Chanki
At Chonnam National University, the birthplace of the May 18 Democratization Movement, a declaration against the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol by some students and a counter rally supporting impeachment were held.
On the 27th, nine organizations from Chonnam National University, including the General Student Council and the university labor union, held a press conference in front of the sports center near the university's back gate in Buk-gu, Gwangju, urging, "Forces supporting insurrection should stop tarnishing Gwangju and Chonnam National University."
This rally was organized as a counteraction after some university students and conservative groups announced a rally against impeachment at the main gate of Chonnam National University.
They stated, "With the verdict for President Yoon's removal imminent, a nationwide university student rally against impeachment is scheduled for March 1," and condemned, "On the eve of March 1st Movement Day, forces of insurrection are trying to use the independence struggle, for which our ancestors shed blood, as a tool to destroy democracy."
They continued, "If you look at the university declarations, the list of participants is not even disclosed, and less than ten students are being fronted while far-right external forces are using broadcast vehicles in violent ways," and argued, "In this situation, some students at Chonnam National University are also planning a declaration urging an investigation into election fraud, thus trying to misuse Chonnam National University, the birthplace of the May 18 Uprising."
They also claimed, "Unlike other universities' 'declarations against impeachment,' this is titled 'declaration urging investigation into election fraud,' but in reality, it is nothing but unconstitutional and anti-democratic sophistry. These are just desperate words from forces wanting to justify martial law," adding, "Forces trying to frame the slogan of Yoon Suk-yeol's removal as an ideological confrontation between left and right should not be allowed to set foot in Chonnam National University."
They also staged a performance where they tore up or crumpled papers with phrases like 'Insurrection Party People Power Party' and 'Chief Instigator of Insurrection Yoon Suk-yeol' and threw them into the trash.
On the 27th, at the main gate of Chonnam National University in Buk-gu, Gwangju, "Chonnam National University Emergency Action," consisting of about 20 students from Chonnam National University, held a press conference. Photo by Min Chanki
'Chonnam National University Emergency Action,' a group of about 20 students, also held a press conference, stating, "Even in the final hearing at the Constitutional Court, President Yoon did not offer a single word of apology regarding martial law or the current situation," and added, "He is inciting riots and rallying far-right supporters to protect himself, asking where in the world martial law lasts only two hours."
The group argued, "Across universities nationwide, far-right YouTubers and students from each university are joining forces to declare opposition to impeachment and are provoking physical clashes," and added, "We cannot stand by as forces supporting insurrection defile the spirit of May 18 at Chonnam National University, the birthplace of the May 18 Democratization Movement."
On the afternoon of the 27th, some students of Chonnam National University held a rally calling for an investigation into election fraud in front of the back gate of Chonnam National University in Buk-gu, Gwangju, showing their student IDs. Photo by Min Chanki
Around 5 p.m. on the same day, at the main gate of Chonnam National University, YouTubers and some students from the university held a rally urging an investigation into election fraud in opposition to President Yoon's impeachment.
About 70 people, including conservative YouTubers and some Chonnam National University students, participated in the rally.
Announcing that 12 current students and 5 alumni from Chonnam National University participated, they issued a 'declaration urging investigation into election fraud,' calling for "strengthening the National Election Commission's server security system, investigating the early voting system, and probing suspicions related to Chinese interference."
They stated, "Currently, the Constitutional Court justices are either members of a heavily biased legal research group or have family members calling for President Yoon's impeachment, raising questions about the realization of the rule of law and credibility," and added, "The suspicions of election fraud in the Republic of Korea and Chinese interference must be clarified."
They further emphasized, "We denounce the situation of suspected election fraud that could completely undermine liberal democracy, and demand a thorough investigation into the matter."
At the main gate area of Chonnam National University, where the counter rally was held simultaneously, police including the criminal task force were deployed throughout the site, and no physical clashes occurred.
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