Democratic Party's 'Yoon Impeachment Demand' Shaved Head Ceremony and Street March... Total Rally with Cries

Democratic Party Supreme Council Meeting on the 12th
Park Chan-dae: "Is the prosecution treating the people like monkeys?"
Opposition launches all-out campaign to rally public opinion for impeachment

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized the prosecution for not filing an immediate appeal against President Yoon Seok-yeol's release decision, saying, "Are they treating the people like monkeys?" Amid growing voices from conservative forces calling for the dismissal of impeachment due to the cancellation of detention, the Democratic Party has engaged in street politics such as head-shaving ceremonies and marches from Yeouido to Gwanghwamun to create public opinion in favor of impeachment. The reformist faction also appears to have temporarily put aside conflicts with leader Lee Jae-myung and joined forces.

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. 2025.3.12 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

At the Democratic Party's Supreme Council meeting on the 12th, Park Chan-dae said, "The prosecution should resolve this by filing an immediate appeal." Park stated, "The backlash from the court's decision to cancel detention and the order to release Shim Woo-jung is intense," adding, "When criticism arose within the prosecution and the courts, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office issued guidelines to local prosecutors' offices to maintain the detention period as before." He questioned, "What does it mean to release President Yoon without appeal and respect the court's judgment, yet keep the detention period calculation as before?"

Leader Lee also said in his closing remarks, "The content related to the calculation of the detention period is absurd." Lee sarcastically remarked, "Did the prosecution make a single exception and then restore the status quo? Amazing."

Since the Seoul Central District Court's decision to cancel President Yoon Seok-yeol's detention on the 7th, the Democratic Party has been mobilizing all efforts at the party level, including holding a night meeting of lawmakers. Due to the unexpected situation, the party resolved at the meeting to march on foot for about 2 hours and 30 minutes from the National Assembly main building to Gyeongbokgung Dongshipjag in the afternoon, calling for Yoon's dismissal. The day before, lawmakers Park Hong-bae, Jeon Jin-sook, and Kim Moon-soo held a head-shaving ceremony on the steps in front of the National Assembly main building.

The conflict between the reformist faction and leader Lee, sparked by Lee's sharp remarks, has also been temporarily patched up. At 2 p.m. that day, Lee met with reformist figures including former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, former lawmaker Park Yong-jin, former National Assembly Secretary-General Lee Kwang-jae, former presidential chief of staff Lim Jong-seok, and former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum at the tent protest site in front of Gyeongbokgung Station to discuss current issues.

Jeon Jin-sook (from left), Park Hong-bae, and Kim Moon-soo, members of the Democratic Party of Korea, are shaving their heads on the stairs in front of the National Assembly main building on the 11th, urging for the early dismissal of President Yoon Seok-yeol. 2025.3.11 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

With President Yoon's release, the pro-Yoon faction is pushing political offensives by advocating for the dismissal of impeachment, while the opposition party is doing its best to create public opinion in favor of upholding impeachment. Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "(The Democratic Party) seems to be anxious that this situation might lead to the dismissal of impeachment," adding, "It should be seen as a move toward a public opinion or psychological warfare."

This also reflects the party's consideration of the 'impeachment card' they have used to create a confrontation with the ruling party. Instead of impeachment, they prioritized street politics to shape public opinion. The Democratic Party is holding the prosecution accountable for not filing an immediate appeal against the decision to cancel President Yoon's detention. However, perhaps mindful of negative public opinion regarding impeachment, the Democratic Party has not clearly stated a specific timing or position on impeachment.

After the meeting the day before, floor spokesperson Yoon Jong-gun told reporters, "Various opinions were expressed, and a decision by the leadership is expected at an appropriate time." Earlier, the five opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, repeatedly emphasized the voluntary resignation of Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung and filed a complaint against him with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.

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