Civic groups hold a rally on Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on Dec. 4, 2024, to demand President Yoon Suk Yeol step down over his declaration of emergency martial law the previous day. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — Civic groups gathered in Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on Wednesday to denounce President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived declaration of martial law and demand the impeachment of his administration.
Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and other civic groups held a press conference claiming Yoon’s martial law declaration the previous day was unconstitutional, unlawful and void.
Yoon declared martial law amid an intensifying standoff with the opposition-controlled National Assembly but lifted it six hours later after the Assembly voted to end it.
Police put the number of protesters at 400.
“President Yoon Suk Yeol mobilized the military to plunder the National Assembly, tried to disrupt access by lawmakers and parliamentary proceedings, and committed acts of destroying the Constitution by declaring martial law and violating people’s basic rights, such as political activities and banning the press and publication,” a civic group representative said.
Outside the National Assembly compound, a progressive civic group known as the Candlelight Action held a separate press conference calling for Yoon’s immediate impeachment and arrest.
The group vowed to stage a sit-down until the Assembly passes an impeachment motion against Yoon.
(Yonhap)
