SEOUL (Reuters) – Protesters supporting and opposing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol staged a protest several hundred meters away from each other in Seoul on Saturday, a week after he was impeached for his short-lived declaration of martial law.
Yoon's presidential powers have been suspended but he remains in office. He has defied various subpoenas by authorities investigating whether the martial law, which he announced late on Dec. 3 and rescinded hours later, constituted sedition.
He has also not responded to attempts to contact him by the Constitutional Court, which is deciding whether to depose him or restore his presidential powers. The court plans to hold a preliminary hearing on Friday.
Saturday's pro- and anti-Yoon protests were held in Gwanghwamun in the city center. There were no clashes as of 4pm (0700 GMT)
Tens of thousands of anti-Yoon protesters, dominated by people in their 20s and 30s, gathered around 3 p.m., waving K-Pop light sticks and signs with words such as “Arrest! Lock! Rebel leader Yoon Suk Yeol” catch K- pop songs.
“I wanted to ask Yoon how he can do this in a democracy in the 21st century, and I think he really has a conscience, let him resign,” said 27-year-old Cho Sung-hyo.
Several thousand pro-Yoon protesters, mainly the elderly and more conservative people who oppose Yoon's removal and support his restoration of power, had gathered since the afternoon.
“This brutal (parliamentary) election is eating up this country, and the main thing is the power of the socialist communists, about 10 of us came together and said one thing – we are totally against impeachment,” said Lee Young-su, 62-year-old businessman. age.
Yoon cited claims of election hacking and “anti-state” North Korean supporters as reasons for imposing martial law, which the National Election Commission rejected.