On the 28th, large-scale rallies both calling for and opposing the impeachment trial decision of President Yoon Suk-yeol took place simultaneously around Gwanghwamun, Seoul.
"Emergency Action for the Immediate Resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol and Societal Reform (Resignation Action)" held a rally in front of the Dongshipjagak Pavilion at Gyeongbokgung starting around 4 p.m. According to the police's unofficial estimate at 5:10 p.m., 35,000 people participated. The Resignation Action estimated that more than 500,000 people were involved.
Participants in the resignation rally held glow sticks and chanted slogans such as "Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol immediately," "The Constitutional Court should dismiss Yoon Suk-yeol as commanded by the sovereign," and "Dismantle the pro-treason People's Power Party." At the start of the rally, participants sang Girls' Generation's "Into the New World" while waving their glow sticks. The rally site reportedly included the presence of Lee Jae-myung, representative of the Democratic Party. The Korean Peasants League, which staged a tractor protest last weekend, thanked citizens who joined the Namtaeryeong rally by distributing 10,000 rainbow rice cakes and drinks.
On this day, Kim Eun-jung, co-chairperson of the Climate Crisis Emergency Action, urged Choi Sang-mok, acting vice prime minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, to "ensure the impeachment process proceeds smoothly" and "appoint Constitutional Court judges without delay."
After the rally, participants are expected to march past the Constitutional Court in Anguk-dong toward Myeong-dong.
At the same time, the conservative group National Movement Headquarters for Correcting the Republic of Korea (NMHCRK) and the Liberty Unification Party held an 'Impeachment Opposition National Rally' around Sejong-daero, about 1 km from Dongshipjagak, starting at around 1 p.m.
As of 5:10 p.m., the number of participants gathered in the section from Gwanghwamun Station to the KT Gwanghwamun building was approximately 35,000 according to the police's unofficial estimate (with a maximum of 40,000), while the organizers estimated 3 million.
Participants waved placards reading "Stay strong, our president Yoon Suk-yeol," "Impeachment is invalid," and "Arrest Lee Jae-myung," along with the Taegeukgi and the Stars and Stripes. There was also a flag stating "The April 15 fraudulent election equals death penalty."
Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People's Power Party, said on stage, "We failed to block the impeachment motion against the president produced by the People's Power Party," and added, "I apologize to the esteemed patriotic citizens." Jeon Kwang-hoon, chair of NMHCRK, shouted, "Release the soldiers and police officers unlawfully arrested and detained while performing legitimate martial law, and dismantle the National Election Commission that led the fraudulent election."