Seoul: Demonstrators and politicians both supporting and opposing impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol gathered for large-scale rallies in Seoul on Saturday, as the nation grapples with the political fallout from his failed martial law attempt and subsequent impeachment. The rallies coincided with the anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement against Japan's colonial rule, following the Constitutional Court's final hearing on Yoon's impeachment trial on Tuesday. Deliberations are underway on whether to remove him from office or reinstate him.
According to Yonhap News Agency, approximately 150,000 people participated in the rallies, prompting the deployment of about 6,400 officers and 230 police buses for crowd control. The events concluded on Saturday evening without major clashes. Rallies led by conservative activist pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon and the conservative Christian group Save Korea commenced near the Gwanghwamun area in downtown Seoul and Yeouido in western Seoul at 1 p.m., opposing Yoon's impeachment. Police estimated up to 120,000 attendees at these rallies.
Dozens of lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) attended the gathering in Yeouido, including Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, who conveyed a message from the impeached president. "When the will and the sense of responsibility to defend freedom are lost, communist totalitarianism and populism will take its place," Yoon stated. Participants carried signs opposing the impeachment and supporting the martial law declaration, waving Korean and U.S. flags while chanting Yoon's name.
Meanwhile, a separate rally organized by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and four other parties unfolded just a kilometer away from the conservative gathering in downtown Seoul at 3:30 p.m., advocating for Yoon's removal from office. DP leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung joined the 18,000 attendees near Anguk Station, where the Constitutional Court is situated. Lee criticized the PPP, asserting that those who undermine constitutional order and the rule of law cannot be deemed conservatives.
At 5 p.m., another group of protesters advocating for Yoon's ouster convened in downtown Seoul, drawing about 15,000 participants, as per police estimates. Demonstrators held picket signs supporting impeachment and chanted slogans such as "Hurray for democracy" and "Hurray for ending insurrection." Some waved the Korean flag and sang the folk song Arirang, with a group marching toward the Constitutional Court post-rally.
Traffic restrictions were enforced on parts of Sejong-daero in downtown Seoul and Yeoui-daero in western Seoul due to the large gatherings. Subway trains temporarily bypassed Gwanghwamun Station but resumed normal operations around 3 p.m.