The Korean Peasant League (Jeonnong) and citizens, urging the arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol, held a rally near the president's residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 22nd. The previous day, approximately 30 tractors from all over the country gathered and were in a standoff with the police for about 28 hours at the Namtaeryeong Pass in Bangbae-dong, Seoul. Ultimately, 13 tractors entered Seoul to participate in the rally.

Tractors of the National Federation of Farmers' Associations are heading to the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on Dec. 22 in the afternoon. /Courtesy of News1

Jeonnong's tractor journey to the capital began on the 16th of this month. Tractors set off from both Muan County in Jeolla Province and Jinju City in Gyeongsang Province and met in Gongju City, South Chungcheong Province, before heading to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in Sejong City. After concluding a rally in front of the Ministry condemning the veto on the grain management law, the farmers headed for Seoul. They reached Namtaeryeong at around noon on the 21st, five days after departure, but were blocked by a barricade of police buses.

The standoff between Jeonnong and the police continued until 4:30 p.m. on the 22nd. During this time, citizens, social groups, and opposition party lawmakers gradually gathered at the site. Eventually, the police and Jeonnong agreed to allow only 13 tractors to move to the president’s residence. The tractors marched through Dongjak Bridge, Seobinggo, under Banpo Bridge, Yongsan District Office, Itaewon Station, and Hanganjin Station to reach the president's residence.

On Dec. 22 in the afternoon, tractors of the National Federation of Farmers' Associations and citizens are marching toward the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul. /Courtesy of Yonhap News

Around 7 p.m. on the same day, the tractors that arrived near the president’s residence turned back to return home without further rallies or marches. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which supported the tractor protest, continued to hold a rally in Hannam-dong calling for the president's resignation. According to the organizers, more than 10,000 people attended the Hannam-dong rally.

The Democratic Party announced that they would examine whether the police's measures to block the tractor march were justified at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee meeting on the 23rd.