On the evening of the 13th, a day before the impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk-yeol, college students from across the country gathered in Sinchon, Seoul, to demand President Yoon's resignation.
The 'National University Student Council Joint Action,' composed of student councils from major universities including Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University, held a rally at 4 p.m. in Seodaemun-gu, Sinchon Yonsei-ro, titled 'National University Student Rally for condemning martial law and demanding the president's resignation.'
This rally was organized by student councils nationwide to convey the students' stance on martial law and to demand the resignation of President Yoon and key officials. Nineteen university student councils participated, and according to organizers, about 4,500 students attended as of 8 p.m.
Kim Ji-eun, the student council president of Seoul National University and a co-executive director, read a joint statement endorsed by student councils from 44 universities. The national university student council stated, "The president's address to the nation included neither a sincere apology nor an acknowledgment of responsibility," and added, "The president, who has divided the nation and violated the constitution, along with martial law officials, must promptly resign and be held accountable." They further demanded, "President Yoon, who declared an unconstitutional and undemocratic martial law, must resign immediately."
Students from the provinces also attended. The KAIST student council operated a shuttle bus to allow students in Daejeon to participate. They departed from Daejeon at 1:30 p.m. and planned to return to campus at 2 a.m. on the 14th, after the rally. Students from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in Gwangju also attended.
Lee Hye-yoon, 19, who traveled for over two hours by subway from Kyunghee University's international campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, said, "Although I don’t support any party, I couldn't remain silent while President Yoon, after the martial law, remained in his position as if nothing had happened. I came from afar to lend my support."
Yoon Mo, a 22-year-old student of Korean language and literature at Yonsei University, said, "The fact that university students are coming together to hold this rally is a positive movement," and added, "This rally presents an opportunity to showcase how the sentiments of the current young generation are changing."
The Ewha Womans University student council held a student assembly on the outdoor steps of the Ewha Womans University ECC in Seodaemun-gu, where they conducted a vote on the 'impeachment demand and future response discussion in response to President Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law.' The assembly was attended by 2,437 enrolled and on leave students, exceeding the quorum requirement of 10% (1,412 students). The proposal was approved with 2,437 votes in favor out of 2,453 voters, with 16 votes against. Following its approval, Ewha Womans University students marched to the rally site.