[Impeachment of Yoon Passed] Gwangju Citizens Say "Victory for Democracy"

"30,000 Watch Live Broadcast at Geumnam-ro 'May Street'
Cheers of 'The People, Democracy, and We Win'
'Glad History's Tragic Repetition Is Avoided... Hope for Right Politics'"

"May 1980 saved December 2024."

The citizens of Gwangju, anxiously watching the parliamentary vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol, greeted the approval news with cheers and applause. The citizens watched the entire process?from the explanation of the impeachment motion to the vote and counting?live in Gwangju’s Geumnam-ro, known as the "May Street."

On the afternoon of the 14th, when the parliamentary vote on President Yoon’s impeachment was underway, citizens began gathering on Geumnam-ro in Gwangju an hour before the vote. According to the organizers, the attendance far exceeded the initially expected number, with approximately 30,000 people present.

At 5:15 p.m., when Speaker Woo Won-shik announced the approval of the presidential impeachment motion, Geumnam-ro transformed into a festival ground. Citizens who had been protesting for President Yoon’s impeachment and watching the vote on the screen sighed in relief. They clapped with smiling faces and shouted cheers. When the screen showed 204 votes in favor, a man in his 60s raised both hands and said, "It happened as the people wished."

Citizens attending the 6th Gwangju Citizens' General Rally held on the special stage at Geumnam-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, cheered as the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol was passed. Photo by Song Bohyun

Citizens attending the 6th Gwangju Citizens' General Rally held on the special stage at Geumnam-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, cheered as the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol was passed. Photo by Song Bohyun

The attendees then shouted slogans such as "The people have won" and "Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol" amid cheers. The host also expressed joy over the impeachment approval by chanting slogans like "The people win," "Democracy wins," and "We win." After a brief moment of silence for the May 18 Democratic Uprising martyrs, they sang the "March for the Beloved."

Housewife Park (33) said, "It’s a natural result, a victory for the people," adding, "I will continue to watch the situation closely until a definite outcome is reached after the impeachment motion."

Office worker Kim (47), wiping away tears, said, "From the moment Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae said, ‘May 1980 saved December 2024,’ to this result, I am glad to witness this special moment in history."

Lee Ji-hyun, the executive vice-chair of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, said, "On the night of the 3rd when the martial law was declared, May 1980 came to mind, and I lost sleep in anger," adding, "I came out to Geumnam-ro hoping that Gwangju would become the center of impeachment and spread nationwide so that the same tragic history would not repeat." She continued, "I thought the tragedy of history would repeat if President Yoon did not step down properly this time," and emphasized, "I was moved by the patriotism of all citizens. Fortunately, the impeachment motion was approved as the people wished, and I hope the political circles, including the Democratic Party, recognize the power of the people and practice proper politics going forward."

Citizens attending the 6th Gwangju Citizens' General Rally held on the special stage at Geumnam-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, cheered as the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol was passed. Photo by Song Bohyun

On that day, the impeachment motion against President Yoon was approved with 204 votes in favor, 85 against, 3 abstentions, and 8 invalid votes out of 300 members present and voting. Accordingly, President Yoon’s duties as head of diplomacy, defense, and administration are immediately suspended. Subsequently, the system will shift to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo acting as the presidential authority, and the Constitutional Court will promptly begin a review process lasting up to 180 days.

The effectiveness of the acting Prime Minister system is expected to take effect at least 2 to 3 hours after the approval. Previously, when former President Roh Moo-hyun’s impeachment was approved in March 2004, former Prime Minister Goh Kun began acting as president 5 hours later, and when former President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment was approved in December 2016, it took about 3 hours for Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn to assume acting authority.

Meanwhile, the Gwangju-Jeonnam Candlelight Action, which led the rally calling for President Yoon’s resignation, announced that it will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. on the 16th to declare the people’s victory and announce future plans.

Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung and lawmakers are greeting each other after leaving the National Assembly plenary session hall following the passage of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol on the afternoon of the 14th. Photo by Yonhap News

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