[Yoon Seok-yeol Impeachment] "Democracy Has Won"... Impeachment Advocacy Groups, Over 8,000 Gather in Downtown to Celebrate

On the 5th, the day after former President Yoon Seok-yeol was dismissed, groups calling for his impeachment gathered in downtown Seoul to celebrate.

The Emergency Action for Immediate Resignation of Yoon Seok-yeol and Social Reform (Emergency Action), which had been demanding the dismissal of former President Yoon, held a "Victory Day Nationwide Civic March" rally around the Dongsipjagak area near Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu that afternoon.

As of 4:30 PM, the police unofficially estimated about 7,500 people had gathered. Despite the rainy and gloomy weather, participants shouted slogans such as "We won, democracy won" with bright expressions.

They congratulated each other by saying "Thank you for your hard work" or repeatedly chanted the impeachment judgment order "Dismiss President Yoon Seok-yeol, the respondent," while cheering.

Citizens cheering during a rally urging impeachment near the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 4th, the day of the impeachment ruling of former President Yoon Seok-yeol. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

Guides wore party-like cone hats and maintained order. Some handed out celebratory rice cakes and hot dogs.

Jeong Cheong-rae, chairman of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee and a member of the impeachment prosecution team, took the podium and said, "I deeply thank the people who defeated the enemies of democracy with democracy," emphasizing, "This is the will of the people, this is the spirit of the constitution."

The Candlelight Action, a civic group calling for former President Yoon's impeachment, also held a rally near Sungnyemun in Jung-gu at the same time. About 500 participants (police unofficial estimate) held placards reading "Complete eradication of the rebellion forces" and shouted slogans such as "Let’s unite all patriotic forces to build a democratic government."

At the event, Rep. Chu Mi-ae of the Democratic Party of Korea took the microphone and asserted, "We must overwhelmingly win the presidential election through the complete end of the rebellion and thorough reform."