About 40,000 supporters of President Yoon Suk-yeol gathered in front of the Seoul Western District Court on the afternoon of the 18th, shouting "dismiss the arrest warrant" as they held a rally. Some protesters were arrested by the police after crossing the outer fence of the court. The police are currently reinforcing their defensive line.
President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is accused of being the mastermind behind a rebellion, is present at the Seoul Western District Court in Gongdeok-dong, Mapo District, which is located 300 meters away in a straight line from Aeogae Station, undergoing a pre-arrest interrogation. The results are expected to be announced late that night or on the 19th.
In front of the Western District Court, about 200 supporters of President Yoon camped out overnight starting the previous night. Upon learning that President Yoon would appear in person at the Western District Court contrary to initial plans, supporters flocked to the location.
On that day around 9 a.m., police dispersed supporters of President Yoon who were occupying the front of the court. Afterward, the supporters divided into three groups about 100 meters away from the main entrance to hold protests. According to the police, before President Yoon departed from the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, about 1,800 supporters (based on unofficial police estimates) gathered to shout slogans including "dismiss the warrant, nullify the impeachment" and "illegal arrest with forged documents."
Supporters of President Yoon exchanged messages on social media (SNS) saying, "let's gather in front of the Western District Court." After President Yoon entered the Western Court at 1:54 p.m., supporters crowded the area, and by 3:40 p.m., their numbers had risen to 24,000. By around 6 p.m., the number grew to 40,000.
Currently, the section of Mapo-daero from Ahyeon Elementary School to Gongdeok Intersection is completely blocked in both directions. Supporters of President Yoon held a rally on the sidewalk near the Western District Court at 2 p.m., but as their numbers grew, they occupied all ten lanes of the Mapo Bridge.
The police are attempting to disperse the protesters, stating that the rally was not reported in advance, but the demonstrators are confronting the police while shouting, "violent police, step back." Some protesters pushed against the police. The police are appealing to the protesters, saying, "If you continue to block the road like this, the president cannot leave. Please move to the sidewalk." The host of the rally urged the protesters, saying, "We're going to be crushed here. Don't push," attempting to calm the crowd.
As more participants gathered, the subway Line 5 temporarily passed through without stopping. Seoul Transportation Corporation stated in a safety alert text message sent on the day that due to the concentration of crowds at the urban rally, subway Line 5 passed through Aeogae Station without stopping from 4:08 p.m. for nine minutes.
With over 40,000 people densely gathering in a narrow area near the Western District Court without prior notice, mobile phone communication has been disrupted. An office worker surnamed Choi, 30, passing by the front of the court, said around 4 p.m., "I can't send photos through Kakao."
The group demanding the resignation of President Yoon, called "Immediate Resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol and Emergency Action for Social Reform," is holding a rally in front of Dongshimsang at Gwanghwamun in Jongno District starting at 4 p.m. They plan to march starting at 5:30 p.m. toward Anguk Station, Euljiro 1-ga Station, Bank of Korea, and Seoul Plaza. Currently, there are no demonstrators demanding President Yoon's resignation in front of the Western District Court, but there is a possibility they may individually move from Gwanghwamun.