The 'National Defense Counsel for the President' opposing the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol was launched at 6 p.m. on the 13th at Cheonggye Plaza in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. During the launch ceremony, a short message sent to supporters by President Yoon, who is currently incarcerated in a detention center, was also revealed.
The National Defense Counsel for the President opened its membership recruitment site on the 3rd and gathered members. In just ten days, over 160,000 people signed up. Seok Dong-hyun, Yoon's legal representative, serves as the Director General, and well-known instructor Jeon Han-gil and others participated.
About 3,000 supporters of President Yoon (according to unofficial police estimates) attended the launch ceremony at Cheonggye Plaza, waving the Korean and U.S. flags. They held placards that read, 'Investigate fraudulent elections,' 'President, return,' 'Nullify impeachment and eradicate communists,' 'Let’s protect the president,' and 'Put Lee Jae-myung in prison.'
Seok, who took the stage, conveyed President Yoon's message, saying, “Today, there was the eighth hearing on the impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court. When I met President Yoon in court, he was aware of the launch ceremony of the National Defense Counsel for the President.” The content of the message was, “I appreciate the concerns and support of the public, especially supporting the dreams and passions of the youth.”
Seok stated that the number of members who joined the National Defense Counsel for the President exceeded 160,000, saying, “The president will win because of all of you.” He continued, “If we win and he returns to his duties, President Yoon will uncover the fraudulent elections, hold those responsible accountable, and accomplish many important tasks you all think alongside you.”
Jeon remarked during a 40-minute speech, “The 150,000 National Defense Counsel for the President is just the beginning. We will gather 200,000, 300,000, 500,000, 1 million, and millions to protect the Republic of Korea and stand by President Yoon until the end.” He also stated, “Dismantle the Democratic Party, which is indifferent to whether the country collapses or not.”
Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, also took the stage, saying, “President Yoon is the greatest political weakling and the greatest legal weakling,” and claimed, “The crime of rebellion is a typical propaganda frame of those who commit legislative tyranny.” Additionally, YouTubers Cha Gang-seok, 'Ground C', and 'Drum Barrel Tiger' participated in the launch ceremony.
At the launch ceremony for the National Defense Counsel for the President, more people in their 20s and 30s participated compared to previous gatherings hosted by conservative groups in Gwanghwamun. A university student named Jeong Mo, 21, said, “I didn’t realize until the transfer that the Democratic Party had been abusing impeachment,” adding, “I think the mid-ground can be better mobilized than gatherings hosted by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon and ‘Love First Church.’” Park Mo, 27, stated, “My family originally supported the Democratic Party, but after the transfer, I came to believe this is right,” asserting, “The country is in danger. The entire process of the president going to the detention center is illegal.”
The event's host noted, “The purpose of creating the National Defense Counsel for the President is to unify voices protecting the president and promote harmony,” adding, “We must integrate generations, regions, and citizens. This is President Yoon's intention.” The National Defense Counsel for the President plans to hold weekly rallies opposing President Yoon's impeachment every Thursday for the next six weeks.