On the 10th, a 'declaration against President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment' was announced at Yonsei University. Thirteen participants, made up of current students and graduates, held a sit-in declaration at 2 p.m. in front of the student union building under the group name 'Yonsei individuals against impeachment.' As the assembly started, they raised their student identification cards to declare themselves as current students or graduates, and then sang the first verse of the national anthem.
Park Jun-young (Department of Electronic Engineering, class of '19), the representative of the anti-impeachment group, said in the declaration, "I believe that the president did not undermine liberal democracy but declared martial law to save our country, which has already collapsed," adding, "I condemn the fraudulent impeachment except for the charges of insurrection."
The 13 participants in the declaration, including Park, held placards that read 'Verify the fraud election' and 'Condemn the fraudulent impeachment.' They also shouted slogans such as "Condemn the fraudulent impeachment," "Verify the fraud election," and "Condemn the opposition's anti-national acts."
Additionally, about 30 onlookers nearby shouted slogans like 'Impeachment invalid.' Some held Korean flags. A graduate student, identified as A, said, "Most students in their 20s would oppose impeachment." A first-year student, identified as Oh (20), said, "I mostly agree with the contents of the declaration."
Earlier, the student council of Yonsei University announced a declaration opposing martial law on the night of Dec. 4, the day after the emergency martial law was proclaimed. On Dec. 12 of the same month, a student general assembly was also held. The proposal regarding the demand for President Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation following the emergency martial law was passed with 2,704 votes in favor, 8 against, and 21 abstentions out of 2,773 students and leave-of-absence voters.
In response, Park noted, "They submitted a position statement without understanding the context of martial law and without considering the general student opinion, and directly led the public sentiment by posting it on their official social media account." He added, "Other students with different opinions have the right to voice their views, which is why we organized this national assembly."
It is reported that there are also movements opposing President Yoon's impeachment at other universities. A student from Ewha Womans University, who came to see the Yonsei student declaration, said, "We are also preparing for an anti-impeachment rally at Ewha." On an anonymous online community used by Seoul National University students, a post titled 'Recruiting signers for the anti-impeachment national declaration' was made by a user identifying themselves as a social welfare student from the class of '21 on the 4th.
Meanwhile, on that day, there was also a rally demanding the resignation of President Yoon Suk-yeol in front of the main gate of Yonsei University. They held placards that read, 'Let's inherit the spirit of the martyrs,' 'Crushing approval for Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation! Let's continue the spirit of the assembly,' 'Yoon Suk-yeol must resign immediately,' and 'Is it reasonable to endorse a coup? Let's protect democracy,' while chanting slogans like 'Impeach Yoon Suk-yeol.'
They moved to the front of the student union at 1:45 p.m., but there was no physical clash with those participating in the anti-impeachment national declaration. Students in favor of impeachment shouted, "Let's impeach Yoon Suk-yeol," while students opposing impeachment shouted in response, "Release Yoon Suk-yeol."