Protesters hold a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 7, calling for the ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol over this week's martial law turmoil. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in front of the National Assembly on Saturday, demanding the ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol, as lawmakers convened a plenary session to vote on a motion to impeach him over martial law turmoil.
Defying December evening chill, civic groups, labor unions, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), students and individuals filled streets near the Assembly in western Seoul, holding signs calling for Yoon's impeachment.
"Oust him," read one picket sign, while another urged, "Protect the nation with the power of candlelight (rallies)."
Lawmakers convened a general meeting Saturday evening to vote on an impeachment motion against Yoon over his widely criticized declaration of martial law earlier this week, which was swiftly lifted after the opposition-controlled parliament voted to reject it.
Protesters hold a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 7, calling for the ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol over this week's martial law turmoil. Yonhap
"Today, right here, we will mark the end of Yoon Suk Yeol," KCTU leader Yang Kyung-soo told the crowd from a podium. "Let us ultimately punish him with even more powerful protests."
As crowds gathered around the Assembly, subway trains bypassed National Assembly Station and Yeouido Station before services at Yeouido Station were reinstated shortly after.
Police estimated that around 149,000 people had joined the gathering as of 5:30 p.m., while organizers claimed the turnout was 1 million.
The main road leading from the southern end of Seogang Bridge over the Han River past the Assembly was closed to traffic.
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions, another major umbrella union, also condemned the president, saying the president's apology, issued before the parliamentary session, was aimed at preventing the passage of the impeachment motion.
Calls for an impeachment also emerged from the legal community.
The Korean Bar Association issued a statement shortly after Yoon's public address, declaring its support for impeachment. "We agree with the impeachment of the president for disrupting the constitutional order through an unconstitutional declaration of martial law."
A man in his 50s was detained by police after trying to immolate himself near the National Assembly in protest of Yoon's martial law declaration, according to officials.
Near Gwanghwamun in central Seoul, another massive rally by conservative civic groups supportive of Yoon filled the streets, urging the Assembly to vote down the impeachment motion.
Waving the Taegeukgi and the Stars and Stripes, rally participants chanted slogans such as "Protect the president" and "Arrest (opposition leader) Lee Jae-myung."
Police estimated that the rally in central Seoul drew 20,000 people, while organizers claimed the crowd reached 1 million. (Yonhap)
Protesters hold a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 7, calling for the ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol over this week's martial law turmoil. Yonhap