On the 14th, the first hearing date for President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial, opposing groups and supporters of President Yoon held press conferences in front of the Constitutional Court in Jongno District, Seoul, showcasing their strength. The opposition claimed, 'The trial of Lee Jae-myung, representative of the Democratic Party, should come before President Yoon's impeachment,' while the pro-impeachment group noted, 'The Constitutional Court justices must make a swift and clear (impeachment) judgment on behalf of the nation.'
Opposing groups such as the Liberty Unified Party and the Republic of Korea Patriotic Patrol Team held a press conference in front of the Constitutional Court around 1 p.m., stating, 'Enforcing an arrest warrant issued without legal grounds is illegal,' and asserting, 'Those violating the law are not the President, but the police, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, and the prosecution.' They added, 'The Constitutional Court must take this into account and make a fair judgment.' About 30 people attended this press conference.
As the opposing group's press conference ended around 1:07 p.m., the pro-impeachment group, such as 'Immediate resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol and emergency social reform action', held a press conference at the same location. The remaining members of the anti-impeachment group shouted at them, saying, 'Who do you think you are to hold a press conference in front of the Constitutional Court?' and 'Get out now!'
During the press conference, the emergency action group claimed, 'The impeachment trial is not a criminal trial, but a constitutional trial, and the situations of martial law and insurrection are already known facts,' stressing that 'The impeachment trial must proceed quickly.' They further stated, 'The Constitutional Court must hold Yoon Suk-yeol accountable for seriously betraying the trust of the people by removing him from office immediately.' After that, members of the emergency action group shouted slogans such as 'The Constitutional Court must immediately dismiss insurrection leader Yoon Suk-yeol' and 'The Constitutional Court must restore popular sovereignty and dismiss Yoon Suk-yeol.' About 40 people attended this press conference.
According to the 'Act on Assembly and Demonstration,' gatherings are prohibited within 100 meters of the Constitutional Court. The Liberty Unified Party held an anti-impeachment rally from 1 p.m. in the vicinity of Anguk Station on Subway Line 3, over 100 meters away from the Constitutional Court, occupying two lanes. While the reported number of participants to the police was 3,000, only about 200 gathered on-site. The moderator said, 'Our generation must be outraged and take to the streets to drive out the North Korean leftist forces and pass on a just nation to the younger generation,' adding, 'If we do not get angry, we will be defeated.'
The first hearing of the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol ended in just four minutes due to his absence, as the president expressed concerns for his safety amid attempts to enforce an arrest warrant. Moon Hyung-bae, acting president of the Constitutional Court, stated, 'Even if the parties do not appear at the next hearing date, the proceedings will continue.' The second hearing in President Yoon's impeachment trial is set to be held on the 16th at 2 p.m.