After Yoon's Impeachment... Political Rallies Move South of the Han River

Residents and Office Workers Near Seoul Central District Court and Acro Vista
Complain of Inconvenience

"Why are rallies being held right in the middle of Gangnam during rush hour?"

At 7 p.m. on the 23rd, near Gyodae Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul, the slogan "Arrest Yoon Sukyeol, the ringleader of insurrection, immediately" echoed through the area. As the rally occupied three out of five lanes, vehicles heading toward Nambu Terminal on Seocho-daero during the evening rush hour experienced severe congestion, prompting one driver to voice his frustration. Thirty minutes later, in front of Exit 1 of Express Bus Terminal Station, around 100 people (according to unofficial police estimates) gathered to show support for former President Yoon Sukyeol. They occupied one lane and marched to Banpo-dong. One driver, apparently dissatisfied with both rally participants and the police, repeatedly honked his horn.

Traffic congestion caused by a rally near Gyodae Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul, at 7 p.m. on the 23rd. Photo by Byun Seonjin

After the impeachment of former President Yoon, political rallies have shifted to residential and commercial districts south of the Han River, such as Seocho and Dongjak, causing inconvenience for local citizens. According to the police and other sources, there were a total of eight political rallies held south of the Han River in Seoul on this day. The number of weekday rallies has been increasing, with four on the 18th, five on the 21st, and seven on the 22nd.

This is seen as a result of conservative rallies moving to areas near Seoul Central District Court and Acro Vista following the impeachment ruling against former President Yoon on the 4th. Counter-protests are also being held by opposing groups.

As a result, the inconvenience felt by office workers and nearby residents is growing. Park (30), an office worker, said, "In recent weeks, rallies have been held in the morning and at lunchtime, with people shouting slogans through loudspeakers, which disrupts my work. I even feel afraid when a YouTuber approaches me with a camera as if to talk to me." During a march in support of former President Yoon held from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the 22nd around Sadang Station and Seoul National University Station, residents' online communities in Dongjak-gu and Gwanak-gu were filled with posts asking, "What is all this noise so late at night?"

Lee Geonsu, a professor of police administration at Baekseok University, said, "The police need to intervene and actively restrain rallies that cross the line."