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Rallies held to celebrate, protest Yoon's ouster
Citizens hold a rally near Gyeongbok Palace, central Seoul, Saturday, celebrating the removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yonhap
By Park Ung
Yoon supporters refuse to accept court ruling
Thousands of people celebrated the removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and called for a new start for the nation, in a rally held in central Seoul, Saturday.
The celebratory gathering came a day after the Constitutional Court unanimously decided to oust Yoon, ruling that all grounds for his impeachment over his botched martial law imposition amounted to a serious violations of the Constitution and multiple laws.
Despite the rain, they waved flags, sang songs together and chanted slogans to commemorate the impeachment during the rally near Gyeongbok Palace.
"I came here to celebrate, but there’s still work to be done," Heo Jae-kyung, 28, told The Korea Times.
“We still face employment discrimination, lack of mobility rights for people with disabilities, and limited rights for women and sexual minorities. I hope Korea moves toward a more equal society that addresses these issues,” she added.
Lee Myung-sook, a 61-year-old retiree, said she was so happy with Yoon's removal.
“But this is only the beginning,” she added. “Yoon spent nearly three years wrecking this country, and there’s still so much to fix. Until the administration is completely replaced and the damage is repaired, we can’t let our guard down.”
Supporters of former President Yoon Suk Yeol denounce the Constitutional Court's ruling to remove Yoon from office, during a rally near the Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul, Saturday. Yonhap
On the other hand, thousands of Yoon supporters held a separate rally just a kilometer away from the celebraters, saying they cannot accept the court ruling.
Protesters led by conservative pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon filled the rain-soaked streets near the Gwanghwamun Square to launch “civil disobedience campaigns,” calling the previous day’s ruling “illegal and unjust.”
Many conservative groups called off their planned rallies after the ruling, saying they would accept the outcome. However, Jeon — a figure known for his inflamatory remarks — pushed ahead with his protest, during which the participants cursed at Constitutional Court justices.
"No judge in their right mind would hand down such a ruling. I don't think they are judges of a democratic nation," Lee Young-hee, 72, told The Korea Times.
Lee said she watched Friday's ruling near the presidential residence in Seoul's Hannam-dong, along with other Yoon supporters. She said she "went blank and collapsed to the ground" the moment she heard the ruling that ousted the president.
"I was firmly convinced the impeachment would be dismissed. That's why I went to Hannam-dong yesterday — to celebrate. The court's ruling is unacceptable," she said.
Lee Beom-ho, a 76-year-old from Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, who watched the ruling with his four brothers Friday, called the court decision "completely illegal."
"I couldn't sleep a wink last night because I was so furious," he said. "From now on, we must wage a battle to win public opinion, win the snap presidential election and completely change the country."