[December 7 National Assembly] 3 PM, Ruling Party's Closed Meeting... 'Lawmakers' Offices Are Being Sealed'

People Power Party's Lawmaker Meeting Fails to Convene
People Power Party Lawmakers' Offices Shut Down in Preparation for Rejection
Protesters Gather Around National Assembly, Line 9 Trains Skip Stops

As of 4 p.m., the People Power Party's (PPP) caucus meeting has not resumed since passing 3 p.m.

The PPP plans to hold a caucus meeting to discuss measures to stabilize the political situation following President Yoon's public address, in which he stated he would entrust the party. However, the meeting, originally scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m., has been delayed because not all members have gathered. It is expected that the caucus will discuss a "orderly resignation" plan.

The PPP has advised its aides to withdraw from the National Assembly building, fearing that citizens might storm the building if the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol is rejected.

On the afternoon of the 7th, Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, is seen leaving the party leader's office at the National Assembly and heading to the emergency party members' meeting room. Photo by Yonhap News

Through an emergency notice, PPP aides were informed that "it is currently difficult to predict any sudden actions before or after the plenary session," and were instructed to "close each member's office in the National Assembly building and remain on standby around the main building." Additionally, they were urged to "focus on documenting any sudden actions or provocations rather than confronting them."

Opposition party members appealed to ruling party members to join the impeachment effort.

Cho Seung-rae, the senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party, appealed during a press conference in the afternoon, saying, "We must think beyond political gains and losses and consider the suffering of the people." Spokesperson Cho emphasized, "Today's impeachment vote on Yoon Seok-yeol will be a scale weighing the conscience before the people and history," and added, "The vote will be an opportunity to confirm whether your pledge to uphold the Constitution and prioritize national interests is still valid."

Opposition lawmakers issued personal statements saying, "Why should we be dragged into a rebellion and become accomplices or sympathizers?"

On the 7th, the day of the vote on the impeachment motion against President Seok-yeol, Subway Line 9 passed Dangsan Station without stopping, causing citizens who could not transfer from Line 2 to Line 9 to walk to the impeachment rally site in front of the National Assembly. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, as citizens gathered near the National Assembly, Subway Line 9 announced that trains would pass through National Assembly Station and Yeouido Station without stopping. By 2 p.m., more than 30,000 citizens had already gathered, and the police are having difficulty counting the crowd due to the influx.

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