Opposition Raises Doubts About Prolonged Impeachment Crisis and Outdoor Protests

"Need to Seek a Post-Impeachment Unification Exit Strategy"
Min Hyungbae Taken to Emergency Room, Kim Kyungsoo’s Blood Sugar Drops
Lee Jaemyung to Pay Respects to Party Member Who Died During Picket Protest

As the Democratic Party of Korea continues its all-out street campaign calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol, some within the party are expressing skepticism about the protests lasting longer than expected. With the impeachment rallies turning into mere showy displays, opinions are emerging that the party should seek post-impeachment unification plans, such as rallying nationwide support.

On the afternoon of the 18th, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to travel to Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, to visit the site where the party’s local council members are conducting a hunger strike demanding President Yoon’s impeachment. Prior to this, he paid respects to a 60-year-old Democratic Party member who died during a picket protest calling for impeachment in Gwangju the day before. The Democratic Party leadership announced that, barring any special circumstances, they will continue daily marches and relay speeches until the Constitutional Court issues its impeachment ruling. They are making the all-out street campaign their main card to pressure the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial verdict.

The problem is that the street protests have extended more than a week beyond the initially expected impeachment trial schedule, raising concerns within the party that the protests may have turned into a mere endurance contest. The Democratic Party originally anticipated that the Constitutional Court would announce the impeachment trial schedule for President Yoon by around the 14th at the latest, considering the impeachment trial schedule of former President Park Geun-hye. A party official said, "When we started the impeachment call march on the 12th, we expected the schedule to conclude this week," adding, "Now entering the second week, today’s march marks the seventh round. It is true that the physical toll is significant."

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the departure ceremony for the Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers' walking march urging the dismissal of President Yoon Seok-yeol, held on the stairs in front of the National Assembly main building on the 12th. 2025.3.12 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

In fact, on the eighth day of the hunger strike, Democratic Party lawmaker Min Hyung-bae collapsed in a weakened state and was transported to the hospital emergency room in the morning. Lawmaker Park Soo-hyun posted on his SNS about Min, saying, "On the eighth day of the hunger strike, what we feared has happened," and added, "The extreme cold caused by a generator failure during the snowy night seems to have worsened his condition." Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who entered his tenth day of fasting in Gwanghwamun, also reported that his blood pressure and blood sugar levels dropped starting from the eighth day.

Given these circumstances, voices within the party are calling to reduce the street rallies and devise an exit strategy to take the initiative after the impeachment ruling. A first-term Democratic Party lawmaker said, "Rather than simply waiting with protests until the impeachment verdict, I think it is time to embark on nationwide efforts for national unity after the ruling." On the other hand, there are also opinions that it will be difficult for the Democratic Party to easily end the street protests while the People Power Party continues anti-impeachment demonstrations.

Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae emphasized at the party’s floor strategy meeting that day, "Today marks the 22nd day since the final arguments in the impeachment trial of the traitor Yoon Seok-yeol ended," and stressed, "We must restore the dignity of South Korea’s democracy by removing Yoon Seok-yeol. The Constitutional Court should deliver a swift verdict."

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving an opening remark at the Supreme Council meeting held in front of Gwanghwamun, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 14th. 2025.3.14. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

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