[On-site Video] "Yoon Seok-yeol, Come Out!" From Insults to Swearing... Citizens Clash Over 'Yoon's Presidential Candidacy'

[Asia Economy Reporters Seunggon Han, Jingun Yoon, Seungmok Han, Kyungdo Lee PD] "If you want to curse Yoon Seok-yeol, just leave!", "Hey, who do you think you are!"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol held a press conference on the 29th at the Maehun Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to announce his presidential candidacy. In front of the press conference venue, the shouts of Yoon’s supporters and citizens opposing his candidacy mixed together, creating a chaotic scene reminiscent of pandemonium. In some cases, harsh verbal abuse was exchanged. During the process, one citizen was taken to the hospital.

A man who expressed opposition to Yoon’s presidential bid said, “Yoon Seok-yeol is not right-wing. The people have lost their minds. They need to wake up.”

Another citizen criticized, “I believe the rule of law in Korea has collapsed. Yoon Seok-yeol is the main culprit who destroyed that rule of law.”

On the other hand, a member of a civic group supporting Yoon emphasized, “Yoon Seok-yeol conducted fair investigations well during his time as a prosecutor, so I believe he can do well as president too.”

Meanwhile, a heated physical altercation broke out between groups supporting Yoon and citizens opposing him. In some cases, loud shouting and verbal abuse were exchanged. One participant in the rally was transported to the hospital due to symptoms of breathing difficulty.

Meanwhile, Yoon officially declared his candidacy for next year’s presidential election at 1 p.m. that day. It was 117 days after resigning from his position as Prosecutor General on March 4. In his declaration, he said, “I will definitely restore the values of freedom democracy, rule of law, and fairness that transcend eras and generations.”

Regarding the Moon Jae-in administration, he criticized, “A small cartel of vested interests entangled with the regime and its interests privatizes power and builds a food chain paralyzed in responsibility and ethics,” adding, “This regime not only privatizes power but also seeks to extend its rule to continue plundering the people.”

Furthermore, Yoon emphasized, “Democracy without freedom is not true democracy but dictatorship and despotism,” and said, “What kind of democracy does this regime want? We absolutely cannot stand by and watch them.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.