On Saturday, the 22nd, large-scale rallies calling for or opposing President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment are expected to take place in various locations throughout downtown Seoul. Both pro and anti-impeachment groups have warned that they will gather 2 million participants for this rally. As the announcement date for the impeachment ruling is delayed more than expected, both the pro and anti-impeachment groups are preparing for a 'full-scale battle.'
The Seoul Police Agency announced on the 21st that pro-impeachment groups like 'Immediate Resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol and Social Reforms Emergency Action' will hold rallies in the area of Sajik-ro and Yulgok-ro in the afternoon on the 22nd.
The 'Immediate Resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol and Social Reforms Emergency Action' side noted, "We expect 2 million citizens to participate." Although the reported number to the police is around 100,000, there is a possibility that the scale of the rally may exceed this. Participants will march toward Jongno after the rally ends.
Anti-impeachment groups, such as the Liberty Unification Party, will hold rallies in the area of Sejong-daero (from Sejong Intersection to Daehanmun), while the conservative Christian group Save Korea will hold a large rally and march in the area of Yeouido National Assembly. Liberty Unification Party Spokesperson Lee Dong-min said, "As the ruling on President Yoon's impeachment is imminent, I believe the number of participants in this rally will easily surpass 2 million." The reported number for the Liberty Unification Party rally is 200,000.
With the estimated number of participants in the pro and anti-impeachment rallies expected to reach at least hundreds of thousands, the police will operate variable lanes around the rally and march areas and deploy around 220 traffic police.
A police official urged, "Please use public transportation such as the subway as much as possible, and if you must use a vehicle, check traffic information."
On the 27th, alongside the general strike of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, teachers and students will be encouraged to participate in the rally by refusing classes and employees will be urged to use their vacation days for participation in the 'National Citizens' General Strike' event.
The Liberty Unification Party and the Movement to Establish a Correct Republic of Korea are continuing an overnight vigil in front of Anguk Station, while the Citizens' Defense for the President, a supporter group for President Yoon, is holding a relay press conference in front of the Constitutional Court.
On the morning of that day, the National Coalition Against Impeachment held a rally opposing the impeachment near the Constitutional Court, and college students from across the nation will announce a declaration against the impeachment that afternoon.
Supporters of President Yoon are also continuing their tent protest in front of the Constitutional Court's main gate. The day before, individuals who were forcibly dispersed by police gathered near Anguk Station and began their sit-in protests with mats and other materials.
The police are blocking traffic at the main gate of the Constitutional Court and on the sidewalk across from it, except for employees of the court and shop owners.
Regarding the tent protests, the police stated that the administrative enforcement by the Jongno District Office must take place for police mobilization to remove the tents. Administrative enforcement is a system where, if a legally mandated action or administrative order is not fulfilled, an administrative authority can carry out the action directly or have a third party do so, and then collect the expenses incurred. It is reported that the Jongno District Office is currently guiding both pro and anti-impeachment groups and has no immediate plans for administrative enforcement.
Meanwhile, detailed traffic conditions during the rally over the weekend can be checked through the Seoul Police Agency's traffic information hotline (☎ 02-700-5000) and the traffic information center website (www.spatic.go.kr).