A large-scale rally calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol was held in downtown Seoul on the 17th. While rallies to urge impeachment have frequently taken place at Gwanghwamun Square, on this day, groups that have been calling for President Yoon's resignation and opposition parties together made a declaration regarding the situation. Members of the Democratic Party walked from the National Assembly to Gwanghwamun, which led to the closure of two lanes of the road, causing inconvenience to citizens. An anti-impeachment rally was also held near the Constitutional Court.
According to the National Assembly and police, the Democratic Party held an emergency general meeting at the National Assembly at 10:30 a.m. on this day and then began a march toward Gwanghwamun starting at 11:30 a.m. The day before, the Democratic Party had notified its members to encourage city, district, and county councilors to participate in the march.
Upon arriving at Gwanghwamun Square, Democratic Party Floor Leader Park Chan-dae and Supreme Council member Kim Min-seok participated in the 'Emergency Action for Immediate Resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol and Social Reform' (Resignation Emergency Action) that held an 'Emergency Declaration from Various Sectors' at 2 p.m. on this day. The four opposition parties, including the Justice Party, Basic Income Party, and Social Democratic Party, also took part. The Resignation Emergency Action is joined by over 1,500 civil society organizations, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy.
Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party's floor leader, stated at the event, "The longer the Constitutional Court's ruling is delayed, the greater the harm will be, and our citizens will suffer from extreme confrontation and conflict," and added, "The Constitutional Court, as the last bastion of the Constitution and democracy, must fulfill its duty to protect the constitutional order with a swift ruling." The Resignation Emergency Action noted in the declaration, "If a ruling on the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol is not made this week, 2 million citizens will gather this weekend to urge the Constitutional Court's decision."
Since the 12th, the Democratic Party has been marching daily from the National Assembly to Gwanghwamun, covering approximately 8.8 km, urging for President Yoon's impeachment. The Democratic Party plans to continue the march, participate in impeachment urging rallies, and make relay statements of condemnation until the date for the impeachment trial ruling is set. As they occupied two lanes of the road and marched, the speed of vehicle movement decreased.
After concluding the declaration regarding the situation at Gwanghwamun Square, the Resignation Emergency Action and the five opposition parties marched toward Anguk Station. The demonstrators arrived at Anguk Station intersection around 3:25 p.m., where the Liberty Union was holding an anti-impeachment rally 100 meters away. They directed insults toward the Resignation Emergency Action side. The number of rally participants was counted at 1,200 for the impeachment urging and 300 for the anti-impeachment (according to unofficial police estimates).
As the impeachment ruling for President Yoon approaches, rallies calling for impeachment have been held daily in the Gwanghwamun area. Yang (30), a local office worker who observed the opposition party's declaration during their commute past Gwanghwamun Square, said, "I live nearby, but due to the rally, it's been noisy late at night, preventing me from sleeping, which has been painful," adding, "These days, because of the rally, traffic is so slow that I leave 30 minutes earlier than usual when going out."
The rally urging for impeachment will continue into the evening. The Resignation Emergency Action and five opposition parties plan to march from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The 10,000 rally participants plan to march from the East Crossroads of Gyeongbokgung Palace to Anguk Station, Euljiro 1-ga, and Sungnyemun before returning to the East Crossroads. The Candlelight Action will also hold a candlelight cultural event around the same time in front of Songhyeon Green Park.
The Liberty Union held an anti-impeachment rally near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong starting at 2 p.m. on this day. Supporters of President Yoon, called the Citizens' Defense Team for the President, have also been conducting a relay press conference opposing the impeachment in front of the Constitutional Court since 9 a.m. An anti-impeachment rally was held at Korea National University of Arts (K’Arts) Daehangno Campus at 3 p.m. Members of the People Power Party continued a relay protest in groups of five in front of the Constitutional Court on this day, holding signs that said 'Dismiss the Impeachment.'