Gwangju City and District Council Members Demand Immediate Impeachment of Yoon, the Main Culprit of the Rebellion

Shaving Ceremony at 5·18 Minju Plaza Press Conference
"Arrest and Investigate the Chief of Rebellion... Kukhim Must Join"

Members of the Gwangju City and District Council affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea are holding a press conference at the 5·18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu on the 9th, issuing a statement condemning President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration of martial law and calling for his impeachment. Photo by Song Bohyun

Amid ongoing backlash from various sectors of society condemning President Yoon Seok-yeol over the unconstitutional and illegal state of emergency, Democratic Party city and district council members in the Gwangju region have called for the immediate impeachment of President Yoon.

On the 9th at 1 p.m., Democratic Party city and district council members held a press conference at the 5·18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju, stating, “The only fate left for ‘the ringleader of the insurrection, Yoon Seok-yeol,’ who has destroyed democracy and the constitution, is impeachment, arrest, and punishment through strict investigation.”

In their statement, they emphasized, “Despite the harsh winter weather, many citizens nationwide have taken to the streets again, holding candles and shouting for the ‘impeachment and immediate arrest of the insurrection ringleader Yoon Seok-yeol.’ Yoon, who illegally mobilized the military to attack the sovereign people, is no longer the president of the Republic of Korea.”

They continued, “The ruling People Power Party lawmakers’ perception of the situation and actions are truly pathetic and deplorable,” adding, “The people are once again despairing as they witness these lawmakers showing no regard for the citizens and focusing solely on protecting their vested interests.”

They urged, “The ‘insurrection ringleader’ Yoon Seok-yeol, who destroyed democracy and intimidated the people, must be immediately arrested, and People Power Party lawmakers should join in the impeachment.”

Members of the Democratic Party of Korea from Gwangju's city and district councils held a head-shaving ceremony on the 9th at the 5.18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, condemning President Yoon's declaration of martial law and calling for impeachment. Photo by Song Bohyun

Eight city and district council members also demonstrated their resolute will by participating in a head-shaving ceremony. Park Hae-won, a council member from Gwangsan District who took part in the ceremony, said, “One of the reasons I participated was to send a message that our youth are also seriously watching the current situation,” adding, “I hope more citizens come out to the square and unite their strength until the day of impeachment.”

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Democratic Party reintroduced the ‘Special Investigation Act on Insurrection’ and the ‘Special Investigation Act on Kim Geon-hee’ in relation to President Yoon’s declaration of the state of emergency. The Democratic Party plans to hold votes on the Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Act on the 12th and the Insurrection Special Investigation Act on the 14th in the plenary session.

Previously, the Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Act passed the National Assembly plenary session three times but was returned to the Assembly due to President Yoon’s veto power exercise. It was subsequently rejected and discarded in the re-vote. However, in the third re-vote held on the 7th, six defections from the People Power Party occurred, falling just two votes short of passage.

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