On Saturday, demonstrators both supporting and opposing impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol gathered for large rallies in Seoul, amid the political fallout from his failed martial law attempt and subsequent impeachment.
The rallies coincided with the anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement against Japan's colonial rule, following the Constitutional Court's final hearing on Yoon's impeachment trial and its deliberations on whether to remove or reinstate him.
The conservative rallies, led by activist pastor Jeon Kwang Hoon and the Save Korea group, began at 1 p.m. near Gwanghwamun and Yeouido. By 2:30 p.m., an estimated 110,000 people had gathered. Several lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party, including Rep. Yoon Sang Hyun, attended, with the latter quoting Yoon as saying, “We must fight until the end with the will and responsibility to defend freedom.” Protestors held signs opposing Yoon’s impeachment and supporting his martial law declaration.
In contrast, a rally organized by the opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and other opposition groups called for Yoon's removal from office. Around 13,000 people attended the rally near Anguk Station, with DPK leader Rep. Lee Jae Myung participating.
As the rallies continued, police deployed 6,400 officers and 230 buses for crowd control. Traffic was restricted in certain areas, and subway services temporarily bypassed Gwanghwamun Station before resuming. A march calling for Yoon's ouster was expected to draw around 100,000 people later in the day.
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