Several demonstrators passed through Seoul – against the president but also his supporters.
Large-scale protests took place in the streets of Seoul on Saturday, with demonstrators supporting South Korean President Jun Sok-yol clashing with a group of his opponents just a few hundred meters apart. TASR informs about it according to a Reuters report.
Last Saturday, the South Korean parliament approved a motion to constitutionally impeach the president, who unexpectedly declared martial law on December 3. At that time, he accused the opposition of anti-state activities, which subsequently declared that he had committed rebellion. Jun currently has his presidential powers suspended but remains in office. He is also prohibited from leaving the country.
The president has repeatedly refused to appear for questioning in connection with the declaration of martial law. The prosecutor’s office gave him until Saturday to come for questioning, otherwise an arrest warrant may be issued for him.
According to Reuters, the Constitutional Court, which decides on his removal from office or the restoration of his presidential powers, also tried to contact Jun, but the president did not respond. The first preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday.
Protestants met in Seoul
Saturday’s protests by two groups – one supporting Jun and the other against the president – took place in the center of the capital. There were no clashes between protesters, writes Reuters.
South Korea’s Jonhap news agency reports that a civic group demanding Jun’s immediate resignation held a rally near Gwanghwamun Square, which it said drew at least 300,000 people. According to Reuters, the demonstrators, who were mostly young people, held placards reading “Arrest! Imprison! Rebel leader Jun Sok-yol!”.
A separate gathering of the president’s supporters was also held in the center of the South Korean metropolis, while Jonhap claims that most of them were elderly people. Hundreds of thousands of people waved South Korean flags, protesting Jun’s impeachment and supporting the restoration of his presidential powers.
