Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
Christmas holiday divided by rallies supporting, opposing Yoon's impeachment
Participants hold banners calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment over his short-lived martial law during a massive rally in the Gwanghwamun area of downtown Seoul on Christmas Eve, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Lee Hae-rin
Liberal, conservative religious groups hold separate political gatherings
Tens of thousands of people held rallies in Seoul over the Christmas holiday to call for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law, while others organized separate gatherings opposing his ouster.
Marking the major Christian holiday, liberal and conservative Christian groups joined the rallies to express their support or opposition to the political conflict.
The progressive Jinbo Party held a rally in front of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, on Christmas Day, Wednesday. The participants called for Yoon's resignation, criticizing his second refusal to accept a summons for questioning on the day.
Their gathering was met with another rally organized by a far-right civic group, New Freedom Union. Its members denounced the impeachment motion and called for Yoon's return to duties.
Police stationed buses to separate them and prevent potential clashes.
Protesters opposing President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, front, and those supporting the president's ouster, back, hold respective rallies in front of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, Wednesday, with a police bus separating them to prevent potential clashes. Civic and religious groups each supporting and opposing the impeachment over Yoon's short-lived martial law held several gatherings between Tuesday and Wednesday. Yonhap
Also, a coalition of civic groups, including Catholic believers calling for a world without discrimination, the LGBTQ+ community, and supporters of anti-discrimination laws, held a rally near Myeongdong Cathedral in the evening.
Under the slogan of "All I want for Christmas is Yoon Suk Yeol's resignation," the participants marched through Euljiro and Jongno to the Constitutional Court, which is reviewing the impeachment case.
On Christmas Eve, an estimated 100,000 people, according to organizers, gathered in the Gwanghwamun area of downtown Seoul to demand Yoon’s impeachment.
Dubbed the "Merry Impeachment Christmas Democracy with Light Sticks Concert," the rally featured live music performances by indie musicians and a choir group organized by the victims and bereaved families of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster.
In one corner, a group of webtoon artists, the bereaved families of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush disaster, and other civic groups set up tents to share food, hot drinks, and other items with the participants.
The participants gathered at the rally site with various cheering sticks. As in previous rallies in Yeouido, they sang and danced to K-pop songs such as Rosé's "APT.," Girls' Generation's "Into the New World," and BTS's "Dope."
After the rally, they marched to the Constitutional Court.
Participants wave light sticks of different colors during a massive rally calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment over his short-lived martial law in the Gwanghwamun area of downtown Seoul on Christmas Eve, Tuesday. Yonhap
Meanwhile, the president's supporters held their own rallies to oppose his impeachment.
On Wednesday morning, Sarang Jeil Church, led by conservative pastor Jun Kwang-hoon, hosted the "2024 Christmas Celebration National Service" near Gwanghwamun Station.
Jun, an outspoken supporter of Yoon, has supported the president's martial law declaration and denounced the impeachment.
The church said some 6,000 people took part in the street service.
On the previous day, two conservative groups also held protests in front of the Donghwa Duty Free Shop in downtown Seoul and near the Constitutional Court nearby, respectively, to speak up against Yoon’s impeachment. The organizers said each rally attracted 1,000 and 300 participants.
Conservative pastor Jun Kwang-hoon from Sarang Jeil Church hosts the "2024 Christmas Celebration National Service" near Gwanghwamun Station in central Seoul, Wednesday, where the participants opposed President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul