Minju's Third Day of Walking March... "Dismiss Yoon Seok-yeol"

Walking Marches and Impeachment Rallies Continue Through the Weekend

The Democratic Party of Korea held an on-site Supreme Council meeting in Gwanghwamun, Seoul on the 14th, and continued a three-day walking march, calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol.

Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party floor leader, Kim Seon-min, acting leader of the Innovation Party for Justice, Lim Myeong-hee, vice-chair of the Social Democratic Party, and opposition lawmakers were marching on foot from the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul toward Gwanghwamun in the afternoon, urging the "impeachment of the instigator of rebellion, Yoon Seok-yeol."

The Democratic Party plans to continue its schedule outside the National Assembly over the weekend. On Saturday, they will start the 4th walking march from the National Assembly to Gwanghwamun Square at 12 p.m., followed by an impeachment rally led by the five opposition parties and civil society groups from 3 p.m.

Then on Sunday, they plan to hold a party caucus at the National Assembly starting at 2 p.m., and begin the 5th walking march from 3 p.m. Afterwards, Democratic Party lawmakers will attend a rally at Gwanghwamun Square at 7 p.m., and continue relay speeches from 9 p.m.

Yonhap News

However, party leader Lee Jae-myung’s attendance at the weekend rallies is uncertain due to personal safety concerns. He has currently requested police protection. Chief spokesperson Cho Seung-rae said, "Today, during the planning stage of the on-site Supreme Council meeting, there was a report of an assassination attempt with a Russian-made pistol," adding, "(The staff) requested that he not attend the meeting, and Lee accepted and did not participate."

The Democratic Party’s intensification of outdoor rallies is interpreted as an effort to strengthen last-minute public opinion campaigns as the Constitutional Court’s ruling on President Yoon’s impeachment trial is delayed beyond expectations. Initially, legal circles expected the ruling to be delivered on this day, noting that previous impeachment trials of former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye did not exceed two weeks from final arguments to ruling, and all rulings were made on Fridays.

Non-Lee Jae-myung faction figures are also voicing support for the immediate impeachment of President Yoon. Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo posted on social media, "Let’s all gather at Gwanghwamun on March 15 to show that democracy in the Republic of Korea is alive," urging, "Let’s protect the Constitutional Court. Let’s protect democracy in the Republic of Korea."