‘Long Live Democracy’: Millions in Seoul celebrate Yoon’s ouster
A rally participant breaks into tears in Seoul as the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, triggering his immediate removal from office over his Dec. 3 martial law bid, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
At 11:22 a.m. Friday, thunderous cheers erupted from thousands of Koreans gathered around the Constitutional Court in Seoul as acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae announced former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s immediate removal from office.
As soon as the words “impeachment sentence” appeared on giant electronic screens, those sitting on the asphalt leapt to their feet, embracing one another and breaking into tears.
“Victory! Victory! Long live democracy," they shouted.
Participants shout in joy at a rally near the Constitutional Court as President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment is announced in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Seoul-based office worker Jeong Hee-seong said the 123 days since Yoon’s declaration of martial law have been painful and suffocating.
“It took so long and I kept wondering, ‘Why should this take so long?’” the 32-year-old said. “We are all here, like-minded and united for the ouster of Yoon, but from all walks of life … I hope Korean society grows more open and respective to diverse opinions.”
Ahn Mi-ja, 45, who came close to tears at the moment of the ruling, said the court's decision was a reconfirmation of the power of democracy.
“I knew there would be no other option but impeachment,” she said. “We now need to come together and build a new future.”
Participants attend a rally urging the immediate removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his Dec. 3 martial law declaration, in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Lee Jeong-min, head of the bereaved families group of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush tragedy, was the first to take the podium and grab the microphone on stage at the rally, which ultimately turned into a celebration.
“We, the bereaved families, have joined every impeachment protest over the past four months with profound anger … because Yoon’s ouster is the first step to recovering the honor of the 159 victims of the Oct. 29 tragedy and ascertaining truths,” he said.
The former president had claimed that the demand from bereaved families and civic groups to investigate the crowd disaster that killed 159 people during Halloween celebrations was an attempt by North Korea to destabilize the South Korean government.
“We will hold who had been in charge accountable and prove that justice is alive in Korea by making them pay the price,” he said.
"Yoon’s ouster is not the end, but only the beginning," said a coalition of 1,700 progressive civic groups that had been orchestrating daily protests demanding Yoon’s removal from power.
“There must be strict judicial oversight of Yoon and his treasonous circle. We must make it clear what the final days of criminals undermining the constitutional government look like and prevent a second or third rebellion,” the group said.
The crowd of pro-impeachment protesters marched to the Gwanghwamun area in downtown Seoul, singing and dancing together, before dispersing around 12:40 p.m.
Meanwhile, thousands of supporters of the impeached president expressed their despair at the outcome of the ruling.
Supporters of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol are seen in dismay during a rally near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Friday, after the Constitutional Court's ruling to remove him from office. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-suk
Led by outspoken conservative pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church and the ultra-conservative Liberty Korea Party, the pro-Yoon bloc staged their protests near the presidential residence in central Seoul.
“This is so unfortunate. I feel like my country has collapsed. I envy the U.S. for having Trump. Trump is doing a good job guarding (his country),” said Ahn Chang-hoon, 65, on the verge of tears.
“There is no way that I accept the ruling, but what can we do other than keep going? This is not a fair ruling. This is so wrong,” he said, promising to attend future rallies “until his last days.”
Park Woo-rin, a 29-year-old from Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, who has watched the ruling broadcast live with pro-Yoon supporters there, also said the ruling was “absolutely unacceptable” and expressed strong distrust toward government authorities, including the police, judges and lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties.
Supporters of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol are seen in dismay during a rally near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Friday, after the Constitutional Court's ruling to remove Yoon from office. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-suk
“This is so upsetting … What I know for sure is that I will continue to attend anti-impeachment rallies. Of course, it’s a must,” he said. “I know there are patriots out there, working hard behind the scenes. I will join them.”
The pro-Yoon bloc initially planned to march after the rally, but the crowd dispersed around 3:20 p.m.
Police dismantled the security perimeter of police buses around the Constitutional Court at 1:30 p.m. and lifted the special crime prevention alert in the Jongno and Jung districts.
As of 4 p.m., no physical clashes have been reported between the supporters and opponents of the impeached president.
The ruling came 111 days after the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion.