March 1st Impeachment Rally Pro and Con Gather in Downtown Seoul... Numerous Tourist Buses Arrive (Comprehensive)

Gathering in Gwanghwamun and Yeouido...
Dozens of Tour Buses Arrive
Police Mobilize 6,400 Officers from 97 Riot Units

Tension is mounting in downtown Seoul as participants are steadily gathering for large-scale rallies both supporting and opposing impeachment on March 1st, the anniversary of the March 1st Movement.

On the 1st, participants of the 'March 1st National Emergency Prayer Meeting' hosted by Save Korea on Yeouidaero, Seoul, are urging the dismissal of President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment. Yonhap News

Supporters of President Yoon Seok-yeol, who have announced a "total rally," are arriving by tour buses around noon, before the rally begins, and taking their places around Gwanghwamun and Yeouido. The Korea Straightening Movement Headquarters (Daegukbon), led by Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, and the conservative Christian group Save Korea will hold rallies at 1 p.m. around Sejong-daero and Yeouidaero, respectively. Each group has reported that 100,000 people are expected to attend.

Near Jonggak Station, close to Gwanghwamun, dozens of tour buses have parked even in the back alleys. Participants carrying flags with regional names such as Hongcheon, Sejong, and Daejeon, along with Taegeukgi (Korean national flags) and U.S. flags, moved in groups. Many of the participants who got off the buses heading to Seoul are middle-aged and older adults. The crowd stretches from Dongwha Duty Free Shop to Deoksugung Palace and in front of Daehanmun Gate.

The rally calling for impeachment near Gwanghwamun is held about 1 km away from the anti-impeachment rally around Anguk Station. The Candlelight Action will hold a rally at 2 p.m. at the Anguk-dong intersection in Jongno-gu, and the five opposition parties including the Democratic Party plan to hold a "National Rally Urging the Impeachment of Yoon Seok-yeol" at the same location starting at 3:30 p.m. Tables with cup noodles, coffee, and bottled water have been set up, and booths for supporting groups are also installed.

At 5 p.m., the Emergency Action for Immediate Resignation of Yoon Seok-yeol and Social Reform (Emergency Action) will hold a nationwide citizen march around Sajik-ro. Emergency Action has reported 100,000 participants, the Democratic Party and others 10,000, and Candlelight Action 3,000.

With hundreds of thousands expected to gather in downtown Seoul for these rallies, the police have mobilized 6,400 officers from 97 nationwide riot police units for an all-out response. Two hundred thirty police buses have been deployed. Around Gwanghwamun, 5,000 officers from 76 units are deployed. To separate supporters and opponents of impeachment, 160 police buses have been used to set up multiple layers of barricades. In Yeouido, 1,400 officers from 21 units and 70 police buses have been mobilized. Additionally, 270 traffic police officers are stationed around the rally and march routes to manage vehicle flow.

Traffic control is also in effect. Sejong-daero (from Sejong-daero Intersection to Gwanghwamun) is fully closed in both directions, and Yeouidaero (from Mapo Bridge South End to Seoul Bridge South End) is also closed, with reversible lanes being operated.

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