Protest Against Presidential Impeachment in Changwon: "Arrest Warrant Illegal, Impeachment Must Be Nullified"

As the second arrest warrant execution attempt for President Yoon Seok-yeol by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) draws near, an “Anti-Impeachment Rally for President Yoon” was held on the afternoon of the 11th in front of Changwon Special City Hall in Gyeongnam.

The participants stated, “We are not far-right forces but citizens who seek to protect the constitutional values and liberal democracy of the Republic of Korea,” adding, “Today, we have risen to fight against and resist the main perpetrators of the impeachment forces and to save the Republic of Korea.”

An anti-impeachment rally against President Yoon Seok-yeol was held at the square in front of Changwon Special City Hall, Gyeongnam. Photo by Lee Se-ryeong

They also claimed, “Martial law is an exclusive presidential authority,” and “There was a reason why martial law had to be declared, but the president is being detained and oppressed under accusations of being a ringleader of rebellion.”

The attendees shouted slogans such as “Impeachment invalid, martial law legal,” urging the suspension of the warrant execution by the CIO and the Constitutional Court’s dismissal of the impeachment.

They argued that the main perpetrators and forces of rebellion are not President Yoon and the ruling People Power Party but Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and the opposition parties including the Democratic Party.

They also demanded the Democratic Party to “abandon the desire to conquer an early presidential election and engage in bipartisan cooperation for political stability and the restoration of the Korean economy.”

Toward the People Power Party, they called it “an irresponsible sponsor that caused the current government crisis” and urged the implementation of responsible politics for the nation and the people.

At the rally opposing the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol held at the square in front of Changwon Special City Hall, Gyeongnam, participants are waving the Taegeukgi and shouting demands to halt the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon. Photo by Lee Se-ryeong

At this event, the Declaration of the People’s Right to Resist of the Republic of Korea and the Resolution of the Free Democratic Youth Corps’ Determined Resistance were announced.

The declaration included demands such as ▲suspension of the execution of President Yoon’s arrest warrant by the Western District Court and the CIO ▲investigation and legal accountability of the Constitutional Court, Western District Court, CIO, police, and prosecution officials involved in issuing the warrant and impeachment ▲immediate arrest and investigation of the judge who issued the warrant and the head of the CIO ▲commitment to protect popular sovereignty, the rule of law, and liberal democracy.

Kyung Cheol-soo, Standing Representative of the National Resistance Movement Headquarters, said, “Earlier, President Yoon stated that the people’s right to resist is above the constitution,” adding, “We hereby activate the people’s right to resist.”

Kim Jin-il, Executive Director of the Free Democratic Youth Corps, recited a resolution stating, “The war to protect conservative values has begun again,” and “If we win now and protect it again, in ten years, a healthier youth generation than today’s 2030 generation will stand proudly over the Republic of Korea. For that day, we will resist and fight to the end.”

Citizens opposing the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol gathered in the plaza in front of Changwon Special City Hall, Gyeongnam, where the anti-impeachment rally was held. Photo by Lee Se-ryeong

According to the organizers’ estimate, about 1,300 people attended the rally, including many city and provincial assembly members of the People Power Party from the Gyeongnam region.

The police managed safety at the rally site by monitoring vehicles and pedestrian traffic around the roundabout surrounding the square.

The organizers plan to hold anti-impeachment rallies every Sunday at around 2 p.m. in front of Changwon City Hall starting from the 19th.

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