In an extraordinary display of civic engagement, hundreds of thousands of South Koreans flooded the historic Gwanghwamun area of central Seoul on Saturday, demanding the removal of suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol. The mass rally, which organizers claimed drew over 500,000 participants, unfolded just a day after parliament voted to impeach Yoon’s acting replacement, deepening the political and constitutional crisis gripping the nation.
A Sea of Protesters United Against Yoon
The demonstrations, which have steadily grown since Yoon’s failed martial law declaration on December 3, transformed central Seoul into a striking tapestry of civic action. Citizens young and old, wielding K-pop light sticks alongside civil society groups, marched from Gyeongbokgung Palace to the Myeongdong shopping district, chanting “Imprison Yoon Suk Yeol” to the beat of K-pop anthems blasting from speaker trucks.
The protests have taken on a distinctly youthful and celebratory character, with students, women’s groups, and activists addressing the orderly crowd from a central stage. The use of glowing light sticks, typically reserved for K-pop concerts, has emerged as a symbol of this new generation of protest, contrasting with the somber candlelight vigils of past political upheavals.
A Nation Demands Accountability
Recent polls indicate that a majority of South Koreans support Yoon’s removal from office following his short-lived attempt to impose martial law, which lasted a mere six hours before being overturned by parliament. The move has sparked the most serious challenge to South Korean democracy since the 1980s, with citizens taking to the streets to defend their hard-won rights.
Tigers may be tigers, but insurrectionists must be eradicated.
– Ahn Yi-ho, member of the band Leenalchi
Constitutional Crisis Deepens with Double Impeachment
The impeachment of acting president Han Duck-soo on Friday marked a new low point in the unfolding political saga. Parliament accused Han of deliberately stalling Yoon’s impeachment process by refusing to appoint judges to the constitutional court, the very body tasked with deciding Yoon’s fate. The court, now operating with only six of its nine seats filled, requires at least six votes to uphold Yoon’s removal, meaning a single dissenting voice could salvage his presidency.
With Han’s removal, finance minister Choi Sang-mok has become the interim leader in an unprecedented triple role, also serving as deputy prime minister. The ruling People Power party has warned that Han’s impeachment risks triggering a “second financial crisis,” while the opposition maintains it was necessary to prevent the sabotage of due process.
A Test of South Korea’s Democratic Resilience
As the political turmoil unfolds, South Koreans have responded with a powerful display of peaceful, democratic resistance. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung sat among the protesters at the anti-Yoon rally, where demonstrators distributed snacks to police officers and cleaned the streets, embodying a spirit of civic responsibility even in the face of crisis.
The crisis has captivated the attention of the world, with the glittering light sticks of the pro-impeachment march illuminating Seoul’s chilly December nights. For South Korea, a nation that has fought hard to establish its democratic institutions, the coming weeks will be a crucial test of its ability to weather political upheaval and emerge with its democracy intact.
As tourists pause to witness this extraordinary moment in South Korean history, the hundreds of thousands gathered in the streets of Seoul stand as a powerful testament to the resilience of a people determined to have their voices heard. The fate of President Yoon, and indeed the future of South Korean democracy itself, hangs in the balance.
