Changwon University Students Issue Public Statement: "Presidential Impeachment Must Be Dismissed"

On the 8th, after President Yoon Suk-yeol was released, university students in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, declared their opposition to the impeachment of President Yoon.

The Masan, Changwon, and Jinhae University Student Union, consisting of current students and alumni from universities in Unified Changwon City such as Gyeongnam University and National Changwon University, gathered in front of the main gate of Gyeongnam University in Masanhappo-gu, Changwon, around noon that day, chanting, "Oppose fraudulent impeachment, dismiss the impeachment trial."

They argued, "Martial law is an authority explicitly stated in the Constitution for the President," and added, "Impeachment of the President is an impeachment of the people and of the liberal democracy of the Republic of Korea."

They continued, "Insurrection is a large-scale war entangled with political motives," and said, "On December 3, when emergency martial law was declared, there were no deaths or injuries; rather, soldiers who came as martial law troops were pushed and injured, and martial law was lifted at the request of the National Assembly."

University students and graduates in the Changwon area of Gyeongnam issued a public statement opposing the impeachment of President Yoon Sukyeol. Photo provided by Masan Changwon Jinhae Student Union Rally Organizers

They further criticized, "After inciting that emergency martial law was an insurrection, the core reason for the impeachment motion, the charge of insurrection, was quietly withdrawn," adding, "Nevertheless, the President is still called the leader of an insurrection, and citizens opposing the impeachment are labeled as insurrectionists."

They then pointed out, "We want to ask who the real insurrectionists are," and stated, "The indiscriminate budget cuts for the nuclear power plant ecosystem, the economy, diplomacy, the presidential office, the prosecution and audit of the opposition party leader, the police, the 28 repeated impeachments, and legislative rampages are all acts of political retaliation driven by personal feelings against the government."

They reiterated, "The emergency martial law on that day was the President's outcry, borrowing the form of martial law to alert the nation to crises in security, economy, and diplomacy," and emphasized again, "The impeachment of President Yoon, who exercised his exclusive authority, should be dismissed."

Additionally, they mentioned the so-called 'Changwon Spy Ring Incident,' urging a thorough investigation and legal action against spy forces, as well as amendments to the espionage law.