A rally urging President Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation was held in the Gwanghwamun area on the evening of the 16th. It was the first weekday evening rally since the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against President Yoon. Over 1,000 people participated in the rally, delaying their evening meal after work to march near the Constitutional Court.
The 'Emergency Action for the Immediate Resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol and Social Reform (Resignation Emergency Action)' held a 'citizens' march' rally in front of the East Crossroads of Gyeongbokgung at 6 p.m. Participants began the 'cheering stick protest' while singing Girls' Generation's 'Into the New World.' Despite the cold weather at 1 degree Celsius and it being Monday evening, office workers joined after work, gathering around 800 people according to an unofficial police estimate over an hour.
Oh, 35, who participated after leaving work from a company in Anyang, Gyeonggi province, was holding a cheering stick of the male idol group 'NU’EST.' Oh mentioned participating in the Yeouido rally on the 14th and said, “I heard the Constitutional Court's decision is important despite the impeachment bill being passed, so I came to add my voice.” Jung, 30, said, “My company is nearby, so I came right after work. I plan to have dinner later after it ends.”
In front of Bosingak at 7 p.m., a candlelight march rally organized by 'Candlelight Action' took place. About 500 people attended according to unofficial police estimates. Yoo, 31, who came after leaving work from a company near Gwanghwamun Station, said, “I don't know whether the Constitutional Court will uphold or dismiss the impeachment motion, so I came to exert influence.”
Participants of the Resignation Emergency Action rally marched towards Anguk Station, Seoul Subway Line 3, close to the Constitutional Court from the East Crossroads, while the Candlelight Action rally participants marched from Bosingak. Lee, 31, a supporter of the People Power Party watching the Candlelight Action march, said, “Impeachment is no joke, is it right to hold a rally like a festival?”
During the Resignation Emergency Action rally near Anguk Station, the host said, “If Yoon Suk-yeol remains in the presidency, it is impossible to protect the public's complete daily life” and urged, “The Constitutional Court should immediately accept the people's intense desire for resignation.” Participants of the Candlelight Action rally shouted at a similar location, “The Constitutional Court must immediately remove Yoon Suk-yeol.”
The Resignation Emergency Action initially planned to hold rallies at the same location throughout the weekdays this week but changed plans to host only on Saturday, the 21st, to allow more citizens to participate. The Candlelight Action will continue to hold rallies at 7 p.m. until Friday this week.
The conservative group 'Korea National Movement for the Right Establishment' held an anti-impeachment rally against President Yoon near Anguk Station at 2 p.m. with about 100 participants on that day.