Delayed Yoon Impeachment Verdict, Opposition Leaders Unite in Gwanghwamun for "Swift Judgment"

Democratic Party Holds Second Supreme Council Meeting in Gwanghwamun
Lee: "Holding a Street Meeting Is Unavoidable to Overcome the Crisis"
Park Chan-dae: "Delaying the Decision Is Not Fulfilling Our Duty to the People"

As the ruling on President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial was delayed beyond expectations, the Democratic Party leadership, including Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, urged the Constitutional Court to deliver a swift verdict.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th. 2025.3.17 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

At the Democratic Party's Supreme Council meeting held on the 19th in a tent in front of Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Lee said, "It is time for everyone to unite their efforts for the prompt normalization of the Republic of Korea," and added, "We once again urge the Constitutional Court to make a swift decision."

Typically, the Democratic Party leadership holds Supreme Council meetings in the party leader's conference room in the National Assembly main building in Yeouido, but following President Yoon's release, reflecting the changed atmosphere, they held the second Supreme Council meeting in Gwanghwamun after the one on the 14th. Lee did not attend last week's meeting due to concerns over personal safety.

Lee expressed, "It is truly regrettable that the Supreme Council meeting of a major political party in the Republic of Korea is being held on the street," and added, "Please understand that this process is an inevitable action for us to overcome the crisis."

He stated, "The Swedish Democracy and Diversity Institute has evaluated our country as a progressing dictatorship for two consecutive years," and continued, "In the Republic of Korea, where democracy was achieved through the blood and sweat of the people fighting against military dictatorship regimes, it is simply shocking to hear the word dictatorship, let alone military dictatorship, which alone causes trauma."

He also said, "U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth excluded South Korea from his first Indo-Pacific tour, a so-called passing," and added, "The dominant analysis is that the reason is political confusion and instability." He pointed out, "There are even talks of renegotiating the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA), but the golden time is slipping away helplessly."

He emphasized, "The essence of all these crises lies in the political turmoil," and stressed, "To prove the resilience of the Republic of Korea, we must quickly dispel the international community's distrust."

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader, also expressed doubts, saying, "As the ruling on President Yoon's impeachment trial is delayed, the leader of the rebellion has been released, and confusion, anxiety, and conflict are intensifying, while economic instability is growing uncontrollably," and questioned, "I cannot understand why this is taking so long."

Park said, "The issues are not complicated, there is sufficient evidence, the entire nation has witnessed it directly, and the matter is serious," and added, "The Constitutional Court said it would prioritize this case, but the delay in the decision is neither a duty to the people nor desirable at the national level," emphasizing, "The Constitutional Court, which has the responsibility to uphold the constitutional order, is repeatedly urged to deliver the dismissal ruling as soon as possible."

Jeon Hyun-hee, a Supreme Council member, also urged the Constitutional Court to make a swift ruling, saying, "There is no reason to delay the dismissal of Yoon Suk-yeol, whose impeachment grounds are clear," and added, "The longer the judgment against injustice is delayed, the greater the pain and confusion for the people."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.