On the day after the Constitutional Court ruled to dismiss former President Yoon Suk-yeol, a rally titled the “Victory Day Pan-Citizen March” is held on April 5 in front of Gwanghwamun, Jongno District, Seoul, organized by the Emergency Action for Yoon’s Immediate Resignation and Social Overhaul. Participants chant slogans such as “Democracy has prevailed” and call for the complete eradication of anti-constitutional forces. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 7 (Korea Bizwire) — A significant majority of South Korean workers believe that nationwide protests calling for the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol have contributed positively to the development of the country’s democracy, according to a new survey released Sunday.
The poll, conducted by research firm Global Research on behalf of the labor rights group Workplace Gapjil 119, surveyed 1,000 employed adults nationwide between February 10 and 17.
The findings reveal that 68.7 percent of respondents agreed the rallies had a beneficial impact on South Korea’s democratic progress. Support was notably higher among women (74.1 percent) than men (62.7 percent).
The data also suggests that a strong sense of political efficacy accompanies participation in mass demonstrations. More than 80 percent of respondents viewed public rallies as an effective way to express their views as citizens, and nearly 80 percent agreed that such protests have the power to correct governmental wrongdoing.
While only 12.5 percent said they had personally participated in the pro-impeachment protests, the sentiment in favor of civic engagement remained high.
On March 14, participants in the “Emergency Action to Immediately Dismiss Coup Leader Yoon Suk-yeol” rally chant slogans in front of Gwanghwamun in Jongno District, Seoul. (Yonhap)
Despite the optimism about political reform, expectations for greater workplace democracy remain tempered. While 63.3 percent said they believe South Korean politics will become more democratic following the protests, only 47.3 percent expected similar democratic advances within the workplace.
Respondents identified key factors needed to foster democratic values at work, including fair decision-making procedures (35.6 percent), the elimination of unfair labor practices (26.8 percent), increased transparency and access to corporate information (19 percent), protections for union activity (8.5 percent), and broader employee representation (8.4 percent).
Attorney Lee Sun-min of Workplace Gapjil 119 emphasized the gap between political and workplace reforms. “While many citizens raise their voices for democracy in the streets, top-down decisions and outdated labor practices still dominate the workplace,” she said. “Institutional and practical reforms for democratic workplaces are urgently needed alongside political democratization.”
The online survey used a structured questionnaire and carries a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.
As South Korea looks ahead to 2026, the findings underscore a growing public appetite for not only political accountability but also structural changes in how power is distributed on the job.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
