1 year after martial law declaration, Lee to join rally near Assembly

President Lee Jae Myung plans to participate in a large civic rally scheduled for Wednesday evening in front of the National Assembly, marking one year since former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Dec. 3, 2024.

The event, organized by a coalition of grassroots organizations and progressive-leaning parties — including the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, the Rebuilding Korea Party and three smaller parties — represents a rare appearance by a sitting president at an outdoor demonstration led by civic organizations.

Presidential spokesperson Kim Nam-joon said at Tuesday’s briefing that the president’s decision to appear in person was motivated by a desire to express gratitude to the Korean people, whose remarkable courage he believes warrants a deeply meaningful acknowledgment.

“We are, of course, meticulously reviewing all security matters within the presidential office,” Kim said. “However, excessively restricting the president’s interactions with the public due to security considerations would not be desirable. With that in mind, we are preparing security measures that balance both safety and meaningful engagement with citizens.”

As Kim noted, the president is expected to use the occasion to thank the public for what his administration calls the “Revolution of Light,” crediting citizens with defending Korea’s democracy during last year’s political crisis.

On Wednesday morning, Lee will deliver a televised national address marking the first anniversary of the movement. A senior official at the presidential office said the speech will honor citizens who “turned a moment of extreme turmoil into peace with their united cry against the barrels of guns.”

After the address, the president will then hold a press conference with foreign correspondents, where he is expected to reaffirm Korea’s commitment to restoring what he calls “K-democracy” and to stress the importance of national unity.

Meanwhile, the area around the National Assembly in Seoul is expected to remain tense throughout the day as both pro- and anti-government rallies take place. Conservative groups have planned counter-demonstrations to coincide with the president’s appearance and one group has registered a protest near the National Assembly calling for the president’s resignation.

Additional conservative organizations plan to stage a rally at 3 p.m. in front of the main opposition People Power Party's headquarters, defending the martial law declaration as legitimate and opposing any apology from the party. Supporters of the former president are also expected to gather at 9:30 a.m. near Hongik University in western Seoul.