Rallies for and Against Impeachment of President Yoon Occur Concurrently in Seoul

SEOUL: Supporters and opponents of President Yoon Suk Yeol convened in central Seoul on Thursday for large-scale rallies, raising apprehensions about potential clashes between the two opposing groups. The rallies centered around the contentious issue of President Yoon's impeachment following his martial law declaration on December 3.According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and liberal civic organizations planned a demonstration around Seoul Plaza, calling for President Yoon's impeachment. This rally, set to begin at 2 p.m., was expected to attract approximately 20,000 participants, who intended to march towards the presidential office in Yongsan later in the day.In response, conservative civic groups organized a counter-rally to oppose the impeachment, assembling about 10,000 participants in front of the Dongwha Duty Free Shop building, located roughly 700 meters from the KCTU rally site. The simultaneous scheduling and close proximity of the rallies have heightened concerns about possible confrontations between the two groups.Authorities were on alert to manage the situation and ensure public safety as tensions remained elevated amidst the politically charged atmosphere.