Citizens hold a candlelight protest at Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul, Wednesday, the day after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. Korea Times photo by Choi Joo-yeon

At 6:20 p.m. on Dec. 4, the chant "All power in the Republic of Korea comes from the people!" echoed once more at Exit 6 of Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul, rekindling memories of the 2016 candlelight protests that ultimately led to the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.

Under the banner "President Yoon must step down," citizens gathered in the heart of the city, united in anger over President Yoon Suk Yeol's bungled declaration of martial law the previous day.

With voices raised and candles in hand, they sang the familiar anthem, reigniting the spirit of resistance that had once united the nation in times of crisis.

Organized by a number of civic groups, including the National People's Action, the "Citizens' Rally for the Resignation of Coup Leader Yoon Suk Yeol" drew participants demanding the president's resignation.

Starting at 6 p.m., the number of participants grew steadily, reaching an estimated 10,000 people according to the organizers (2,000 according to unofficial police estimates) within an hour, as office workers joined after finishing their workday.

Notably, young students unfamiliar with the term "martial law" also participated.

A 15-year-old middle school student, who traveled from Dongdaemun District in northeastern Seoul after school, said, "I watched the martial law developments with my family and felt compelled to come here with my friends to speak out."

Jeong Se-i, 17, who came with her parents from Suwon, south of Seoul, said, "The government's violent actions, such as deploying the military, shocked me. Even as a teenager, I feel that President Yoon lacks responsibility."

Citizens participating in the "Treason Charges Against Yoon Suk Yeol! Candlelight Protest" march toward the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, Wednesday.

Candlelight protests at National Assembly

Tensions flared during the candle-lit rally. A man, presumed to be a conservative supporter, gestured aggressively at the protesters and was stopped by police. During the march toward the presidential office in Yongsan, clashes also erupted between participants and police managing the traffic lanes.

Candlelight protests also erupted in front of the National Assembly, where military and police had arrived following the martial law declaration.

Members of six opposition parties and citizens held a candlelight vigil on the steps of the Assembly's main building, intensifying criticism of the Yoon administration.

Participants marched around the Assembly complex, from the main building to the lawmakers' offices and the main gate, chanting slogans like "Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol" and "Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol."

The procession stretched approximately 500 meters. Kim Ji-seon, leader of the Seoul Candlelight Action, said, "The fate of a regime that treats its people as enemies is impeachment."

Citizens also voiced their demand for the president's resignation. A 24-year-old protester, identified only by the surname Ji, who came from Eunpyeong District in northwestern Seoul, said, "Watching the martial law announcement at home, I felt I couldn't stay silent anymore, so I joined a protest for the first time in my life. It's shocking how easily martial law can be declared."

Lee Su-mi, 32, who took part in the demonstration with her younger sister, said, "I participated during Park Geun-hye's impeachment and felt I couldn't sit this one out either."

Participants in a candlelight protest against President Yoon Suk- Yeol march past Sungnyemun Gate, heading toward the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

As of 7 p.m., the organizers estimated that 1,500 people had gathered at the National Assembly protest.

Anger on university campuses also reached a boiling point. At Korea University in Seoul, over 370 professors and researchers issued an emergency declaration.

Seoul National University's student council condemned the martial law declaration, saying that it "trampled on the democratic ideals of the April 19 Revolution," referring to the mass protests in Korea that led to the resignation of President Syngman Rhee in 1960.

At Dongguk University, posters demanding the president's immediate resignation appeared across campus, with messages like "For a society where fairness and common sense prevail, step down now."

With protests swelling across various sectors of society, the call for accountability and the president's resignation is expected to gain momentum nationwide.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.