Sat Dec 21 07:42:21 UTC 2024: ## Rival Protests Erupt in Seoul Following South Korean President’s Impeachment
**Seoul, South Korea –** Tens of thousands of South Koreans took to the streets of Seoul on Saturday, December 21st, 2024, in rival protests sparked by the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The demonstrations, which remained peaceful as of Saturday afternoon, saw pro- and anti-Yoon factions gathering separately in Gwanghwamun.
President Yoon, whose presidential powers are currently suspended, faces investigation for declaring and subsequently rescinding martial law on December 3rd. He has refused to cooperate with authorities investigating whether his actions constituted insurrection. The Constitutional Court will hold a preparatory hearing on Friday, December 20th, to determine whether to remove him from office.
Anti-Yoon protesters, largely young people, called for his arrest and imprisonment, using K-Pop music and imagery to express their anger. One protester, 27-year-old Cho Sung-hyo, questioned the President’s actions in a 21st-century democracy.
Conversely, pro-Yoon protesters, primarily older and more conservative, opposed his removal from office. They attributed the impeachment to rigged elections and alleged influence from socialist and communist forces, as stated by 62-year-old businessman Lee Young-su. President Yoon justified his declaration of martial law by citing claims of election hacking and pro-North Korean sympathizers, claims denied by the National Election Commission. The situation remains tense as the Constitutional Court prepares to make its decision.
First Piper 