Thousands of protesters gathered outside South Korea's National Assembly on Saturday, demanding the ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol as lawmakers voted on his impeachment. The atmosphere was charged as demonstrators shouted, “Impeach Yoon!”
As the voting commenced, the crowd fell silent, attentively watching large screens that livestreamed the proceedings. Protest organizers attempted to maintain a positive atmosphere by playing music while the votes were tallied. The announcement from the speaker of the National Assembly confirmed the impeachment vote had passed.
The crowd erupted in celebration, waving flags and banners in triumph. Protesters embraced one another, some shedding tears of joy, while balloons were released into the air. “Long live South Korea!” they chanted.
For many in attendance, this outcome alleviated the uncertainty that had emerged following President Yoon's unexpected declaration of martial law on December 3, a move he described as a response to an opposition seeking to undermine democracy. This marked the first instance of martial law declared by a South Korean president since the end of the military dictatorship in the late 1980s, leading to widespread discontent.
“This is the happiest moment of my life,” remarked Kim Myoung-sook, a 60-year-old resident of Seoul. “Martial law is a declaration of war on the people, and I was so depressed over the past week.”
Park Sun-woo, a 54-year-old Seoul resident, expressed his appreciation for the diverse participation in the protests. “No matter the gender or age, the people came together,” he stated. “Thank you to the young people who turned out. Our sons and daughters. You have grown up so well.”
After the announcement, celebratory music filled the air, and free food and coffee were distributed to the protesters. Families gathered around stalls selling spicy rice cakes, sharing words of encouragement with one another.
“I’m over the moon, but this cannot happen again,” said An Jung-hyun, a 26-year-old office worker who had participated in past protests against President Park Geun-hye, who was removed from office in 2017. Ms. An immediately joined the demonstrations upon hearing Yoon's martial law declaration, describing her reaction as instinctive.
Celebrations continued, with a band performing in a quieter alleyway, drawing a small crowd swaying to mellower tunes. As night fell, attendees waved light sticks and raised their fists in solidarity. Many took selfies and began to leave, exchanging handshakes.
“We had a feeling Yoon would be impeached,” said Kim Hae-min, a 28-year-old Seoul resident present with co-workers. “We wanted to share and share in the joy.”