Rival protests planned in South Korea after second leader impeached
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Protesters outside Gyeongbokgung Palace at a rally by civic groups calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's resignation in Seoul on Dec 28.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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SEOUL – Protests were planned across South Korea on Dec 28, as supporters and opponents of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol prepared to hold rival rallies two weeks after he was impeached.
Vast protests both for and against Mr Yoon have rocked South Korea since he sought to impose martial law
Lawmakers on Dec 27 impeached Mr Yoon’s replacement, Acting President Han Duck-soo
It is up to the Constitutional Court to decide Mr Yoon’s and Mr Han’s fates, but demonstrators from both camps have vowed to keep up pressure in the meantime.
“Nearly two million people will come together to protect President Yoon,” said Yoon supporter Rhee kang-san, one of the rally organisers in Seoul.
“The rally continues our efforts to amplify the people’s voice against impeachment.”
An organiser of a rival anti-Yoon rally said the anger of those who supported his impeachment was “burning even more intensely”.
“The people are now strongly demanding Yoon’s immediate dismissal and punishment,” she added.
At the heart of the backlash against Mr Han was his refusal to appoint additional judges to the Constitutional Court, which has three vacant seats.
While the six current judges can decide whether to uphold Parliament’s decision to impeach Mr Yoon
The opposition wanted Mr Han to approve three more nominees to fill the nine-member bench, which he had refused to do, leaving both sides in deadlock.
The second impeachment on Dec 27 thrust Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok
It also took the country into uncharted territory.
“We’ve had an acting president before,” said Professor Lee Jun-han of Incheon National University. “But this is the first time we’ve had a substitute for a substitute.”
Mr Choi said in a statement after the impeachment that “minimising governmental turmoil is of utmost importance at this moment”, adding that “the government will also dedicate all its efforts to overcoming this period of turmoil”.
Like Mr Han, Mr Choi will face pressure from the opposition to accept the appointment of new judges.
If he refuses, he could face his own impeachment vote. AFP
