Rallies Held Across the Country Including Gwanghwamun, Constitutional Court, and Hannam-dong Residence
As the Constitutional Court's ruling on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol approaches, pro- and anti-impeachment rallies are being held across the country even on the holiday of the 23rd.
According to Yonhap News, in Gwangju, from 2 p.m. on the same day, the 'Patriotic Citizens' General Rally Against the President's Impeachment in Gwangju and Jeonnam,' organized by Seo-gu Antioch Church and the Gwangju Conservative Party and Civil Society Coalition, will take place. History lecturer Jeon Han-gil and Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, are also scheduled to speak at the event. The daily rallies in Gwangju calling for President Yoon's impeachment will take a break on this day for reorganization.
On the 22nd, pro- and anti-impeachment rallies for President Yoon Seok-yeol were held in downtown Seoul. On the left is the 16th Nationwide Citizens' March for the Immediate Resignation of Yoon Seok-yeol and Social Reform held in front of Dongsipjagak in Jongno-gu, and on the right is the Gwanghwamun National Rally Against the Impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol organized by the Korea Restoration Movement Headquarters held on Sejong-daero in Jung-gu.
The 'Gwangju Emergency Action for Immediate Resignation of Yoon Seok-yeol and Social Reform,' a coalition of about 180 civil society organizations, has been holding daily rallies calling for impeachment since the cancellation of President Yoon's detention. However, they will take a one-day break for reorganization and resume daily rallies starting tomorrow. The plan is to hold daily rallies again from the 24th after the one-day break.
From 11 a.m. on the same day, Sarang Jeil Church, led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, will hold a nationwide Sunday united worship opposing impeachment near Dongwha Duty-Free Shop on Sejong-daero. The conservative Christian party, the Liberty Unification Party, will hold anti-impeachment rallies near Anguk Station in Jongno-gu from 1 p.m. and in front of the Han-nam-dong residence in Yongsan-gu from 2 p.m.
At 4 p.m., four pharmacist organizations, including the Pharmacists for a Healthy Society, will hold a 'Pharmacists' Declaration Urging Immediate Dismissal of Yoon Seok-yeol' near Seosipjagak at Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu.
In Busan, an anti-impeachment rally is also scheduled. The conservative group, the Union for Liberal Democracy, will gather about 300 people in front of City Spot in Nampo-dong from 3 p.m. to hold a rally condemning the Democratic Party and declaring the impeachment invalid. The Angry Blue group will also hold a rally condemning the Constitutional Court from 1 p.m. in front of the Heart Sculpture in Seomyeon. After the rallies, they plan to march about 2 km around the rally sites.
On the 15th, pro and anti-impeachment rallies for President Yoon Seok-yeol were held across Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.
In major squares in downtown Gyeongnam, pro- and anti-impeachment rallies will be held consecutively. The progressive group, Gyeongnam Emergency Action for Immediate Resignation of Yoon Seok-yeol and Social Reform, will hold a rally at the same location from 5 p.m. About 300 participants are expected, and they plan to march 1.6 km to Sangnam Fountain Square.
The conservative group, the Love for Country Association, will hold an anti-impeachment rally at Changwon Square at 2 p.m. The organizers expect about 400 participants.
The progressive group, Gyeongnam Emergency Action for Immediate Resignation of Yoon Seok-yeol and Social Reform, will hold a rally at the same location from 5 p.m. About 300 participants are expected, and they plan to march 1.6 km to Sangnam Fountain Square.
The conservative Christian group Save Korea held a national emergency prayer meeting opposing impeachment in front of the Gangwon Provincial Office the day before. The police estimated about 2,500 attendees, while the organizers estimated about 4,000.
Meanwhile, a series of judicial rulings that will determine the course of South Korean politics are expected. Starting with the ruling on Prime Minister Han's impeachment trial scheduled for the 24th, the verdict on Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, for violation of the Public Official Election Act in the second trial will be announced on the 26th. In political circles, there is speculation that the ruling on President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial, which has been delayed since the final arguments on the 25th of last month, will be concluded on the 28th.
In response, the police are preparing for violent protests on the day of the ruling amid heightened tension. The police plan to issue a 'Gapho Emergency' on the day of the ruling and mobilize 100% of their forces. About 20,000 personnel from 338 units will be fully deployed. On that day, police officers will be provided with anti-cut suits and anti-cut gloves.
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