Democratic Party's Lee Jae-jung Assaulted in Front of Constitutional Court... Yoon Supporter Detained by Police

Representative Baek Hyeryun Hit by Raw Egg
Police Begin Forcible Dispersal of Protesters

A supporter of President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested by the police on the 20th for assaulting Lee Jae-jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, in front of the Constitutional Court.

Members of the Democratic Party held a press conference on the 20th in front of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, urging the swift dismissal of President Yoon Seok-yeol. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the police, around 6:10 p.m. that day, Lee was kicked on his right thigh by a man named Choi while moving toward the Constitutional Court.

The police arrived at the scene around 6:20 p.m. and handed Choi over to the Jongno Police Station in Seoul.

Earlier, lawmakers Baek Hye-ryun and Lee Geon-tae were hit by raw eggs thrown from the opposite sidewalk during a press conference urging the swift dismissal of President Yoon Suk-yeol that morning.

At the time, supporters of President Yoon holding Taegeukgi and the U.S. flag were present on the sidewalk. The police have not secured the suspect at the scene and are currently tracking them down.

Baek Hye-ryun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is wiping off eggs thrown at her face in front of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 20th. Photo by Yonhap News

Democratic Party lawmakers from the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee visited the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu that afternoon to meet with Acting Commissioner Lee Ho-young. The Democratic lawmakers said, "The egg-throwing incident against Representative Baek is an act of violence and intimidation against the Constitutional Court," and added, "It was a predictable event a few days ago, yet it was not prevented."

Shin Jeong-hoon, the chairman of the Public Administration Committee, said, "We focused on questioning whether this incident was caused by lax security measures against YouTubers and protesters in front of the Constitutional Court," and requested the removal of tents next to the main gate of the Constitutional Court where supporters of President Yoon Suk-yeol are staging a sit-in.

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Geon-young conveyed that the police leadership responded by apologizing for the unfortunate incident despite their best efforts. The police stated they would strictly control the passage of far-right YouTubers in front of the Constitutional Court and use barricades to prevent intimidation acts against the court.

Members of the Democratic Party on the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee are visiting the National Police Agency to protest on the 20th. Photo by Yonhap News

The police began forcibly dispersing protesters gathered in front of the Constitutional Court. Some protesters opposing the police action shouted "Dismissal rejected" and resisted by holding onto barricades. Some also demanded identification from police officers.

So far, not all protesters have dispersed, and some remain to continue their sit-in. Protesters pushed away from the main gate moved near Anguk Station, waving Taegeukgi and U.S. flags while chanting slogans such as "Dismissal rejected."