A protester, who was shouting opposition to President Yoon Suk-yeol using a one-person demonstration format in front of the Constitutional Court in Jongno, Seoul, was forcibly dissolved after a 'raw egg terror' incident, but continues to attempt to breach the police defense line. The protesters who appear during the day differ from those who come at night, causing the police to struggle with control, as if they are switching shifts.
On the morning of the 21st, police are checking the identities and purposes of individuals trying to move toward the Constitutional Court near Anguk Station on Seoul's Line 3 subway to block the entry of protesters. This is to prevent a recurrence of the violent incident that occurred the day before.
Earlier, at around 8:55 a.m. the previous day, Rep. Baek Hye-ryun of the Democratic Party, along with about 10 fellow party members, was holding a press conference in front of the Constitutional Court when she was hit in the face by a raw egg thrown from among the one-person demonstrators across the street. Subsequently, the police forcibly dispersed the protesters present there by grabbing both arms of the demonstrators and removing them to another location. However, at around 6:10 p.m. that day, Rep. Lee Jae-jung of the Democratic Party reported to the police that a man approached him while he was passing on the sidewalk near the Constitutional Court and kicked him in the thigh on the right side.
This is because the protesters have not completely dispersed. Around 4 p.m. the previous day, about 10 supporters of President Yoon appeared again across from the Constitutional Court and held a rally. When the police attempted to forcibly disperse the protesters again, four of them lay down on the sidewalk and resisted, stating, 'We collapsed because the police pulled us out.' The police deployed an additional 20 tactical officers to forcibly remove the protesters.
Even after sunset, attempts to enter the controlled area near the Constitutional Court continued. Supporters of President Yoon, who were not visible during the day, attempted to enter near the main entrance of the Constitutional Court and across the street. Some supporters of President Yoon who attempted to enter the Constitutional Court during the day disappeared, presumably having returned home. The police deployed about 50 additional tactical officers near the main entrance around 9 p.m. the previous day to strengthen their guard.
The protesters also attempted to advance toward the Constitutional Court that day. Around noon, 10 supporters of President Yoon, who appeared across from the Constitutional Court, shouted the slogan 'Dismiss the impeachment' before receiving orders to disperse. When the police asked them to 'go outside the fence,' they argued, 'Why are we being expelled for a one-person demonstration while the Democratic Party's press conference is allowed?'
According to the current 'Act on Assembly and Demonstration' (Assembly Act), gatherings and demonstrations are prohibited within 100 meters of the Constitutional Court boundary, but press conferences are allowed. One-person demonstrations are also permitted. However, the police typically define 'within 20 meters' as the same area, and if two or more people make similar claims while holding a one-person demonstration within this distance, it is regarded as an illegal, unreported gathering and has been forcibly dispersed. Recently, there have been many one-person demonstrators in front of the Constitutional Court, who have been actively resisting, making dispersal difficult.
As it became difficult to easily access the main entrance of the Constitutional Court, some protesters have entered the controlled area by disguising their identities. As of 10:30 a.m. on the 21st, in addition to about 20 individuals related to the hunger strike and press conference near the main entrance, there were an additional six demonstrators. The number of protesters conducting overnight vigils has also increased. On the morning of the 21st, two additional tents appeared near the main entrance of the Constitutional Court, and three overnight protesters were found lying on cardboard with aluminum blankets.
On the morning of that day at 9 a.m., members of the People Power Party, including Kim Ki-hyun, Na Kyung-won, and Chu Kyung-ho, held a press conference urging the dismissal of the impeachment while wearing red scarves. Across from them, Democratic Party members held a press conference calling for President Yoon's dismissal. During the Democratic Party members' press conference, a black Starex equipped with a loudspeaker passed in front of the Constitutional Court, shouting insults related to Representative Lee Jae-myung, causing the remarks to be interrupted.