A massive demonstration against the South Korean president, Yoon Suk-yeol, started this Saturday in front of the National Assembly of South Korea, in Seoul, before the session that will take place in this chamber to approve or not the president’s dismissal due to the application of martial law.
The protest, in which civil and political platforms participate, as well as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the largest union group in the country, began at 3:00 p.m. local time (6:00 GMT) in front of the headquarters of the legislative body, and in through a large security deployment.
Some of the participating groups, including the union confederation, gathered in other parts of the capital before the general protest and moved to the Assembly in what they called a ‘National Vigil March’ that could last throughout the afternoon and evening. night based on the results of today’s vote.
Citizens coming from other parts of the country on trips organized by civil associations or union groups participate in the protest, while in the Yeouido district, where the Assembly is located, there are hundreds of police deployed to prevent incidents.
A man in his 50s was arrested at the beginning of the rally after trying to immolate himself in the vicinity of the National Assembly, and had to be hospitalized without his condition being revealed, according to the local Yonhap agency.
Due to the significant crowding, the metro operator has reported that the convoys will not stop in the next few hours at the two stations closest to Parliament.
Starting at 5:00 p.m. local time (8:00 GMT), the vote on the motion to remove Yoon is scheduled, a parliamentary initiative presented by the opposition, which has a majority in the South Korean parliament.
The key to the vote will be the discipline of the deputies of Yoon’s People’s Power Party (PPP). Although this force has marked the political line of supporting the president to remain in power, strong voices within it have also criticized the president for resorting to this extreme measure without justification last Tuesday.
Han Dong-hoon, the head of the party, called the day before for the “immediate suspension of the president from his duties with a view to protecting the Republic of Korea (official name of the country) and its people,” and this same Saturday he stated that An “early resignation” by Yoon “is inevitable” and added that the party will deliberate the best way to proceed, before the parliamentary vote.
His statements today came after Yoon apologized “for causing concern and inconvenience to the public,” in a speech in which he also said that he left “the stabilization of the political situation, including his mandate, in the hands of his party.” .
