Gwangju Women's Group "Republic of Korea Democracy Undermined... Impeach Yoon"

Regression of Gender Equality Values and Policies During Tenure
Unyielding Struggle Until the Day of Severe Punishment

On the morning of the 13th, at the Gwangju Citizen Social Support Center on the 4th floor of Jeonil Building 245 in Dong-gu, Gwangju, women's organizations in the Gwangju area, including the May Mothers' House, May Democratic Women's Association, Gwangju Women's Organizations Council, Gwangju YWCA, and Gwangju-Jeonnam Women's Organizations Federation, held a press conference to announce a political declaration and shouted slogans. Photo by Min Chan-gi

Women's organizations in Gwangju called for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, accusing him of undermining the values of democracy in the Republic of Korea that had been built up over decades due to the 'December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident.'

On the morning of the 13th, May Mothers' House, May Democratic Women's Association, Gwangju Women's Organizations Council, Gwangju YWCA, and Gwangju-Jeonnam Women's Organizations Federation held a press conference at the Gwangju Citizens' Social Support Center on the 4th floor of Jeonil Building 245 in Dong-gu to announce a declaration on the current situation. The event proceeded with opening remarks, condemnation speeches by the heads of each organization, and the reading of the declaration.

Through the 'Gwangju Women's Community Declaration on the Current Situation,' they stated, "On the 3rd, the emergency martial law declared by President Yoon Suk-yeol made the people of the nation and the entire world witness the collapse of the values of democracy and constitutional order in the Republic of Korea," adding, "We can no longer tolerate Yoon Suk-yeol as president, who instantly reverted the democracy values painstakingly built by the people over decades back to square one."

The organizations emphasized, "Democracy in the Republic of Korea is itself the history of countless sacrifices and hard-fought struggles by the people," and continued, "In numerous turbulent moments of modern history such as the April 19 Revolution, the Bu-Ma Democratic Uprising, the May 18 Democratic Movement, and the June Democratic Uprising, the people risked their lives to protect democratic values and uphold constitutional order."

They further criticized, "Since the election period, President Yoon denied structural gender discrimination, announced a pledge to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and exploited discrimination and hateful sentiments against women and minorities as political resources," adding, "In just two and a half short years, he has regressed the values, policies, and frameworks for gender equality that had been advancing for decades at an unprecedented speed."

The statement also declared, "Yoon Suk-yeol, who has led the destruction of gender-equal democratic values since the inception of his government, has gone so far as to declare martial law, aiming to destroy the fundamental rights of the people," and vowed, "Women will take any action necessary until Yoon Suk-yeol and his collaborators are removed from office and face severe punishment."

Kim Hyung-mi, director of May Mothers' House, said, "Yesterday's statement confirmed that the declaration of martial law was an act of rebellion. The statement appeared to be inciting and issuing orders to the accomplices of the rebellion," adding, "If impeachment does not proceed, it will be dangerous. Women's organizations will fight to the end to protect democracy."

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