Gwangju: Crowds of protesters held rallies on the historic street of the pro-democracy uprising of May 18, 1980, in the southwestern city of Gwangju, either opposing the ouster of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol or calling for his removal from office.
According to Yonhap News Agency, approximately 10,000 people gathered at Geumnam-ro, the city's central avenue, for a massive prayer event organized by a conservative Christian group. This group opposed Yoon's ouster over his short-lived martial law bid in December.
Geumnam-ro is the historic street symbolizing the May 18 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju in 1980. During that period, many people were killed and injured as the military brutally cracked down on protesters who rose up against the ruling junta led by Chun Doo-hwan.
The protest on Saturday coincided with the Constitutional Court's impeachment trials of Yoon over his failed martial law bid. Yoon was detained last month on charges of insurrection related to this bid. His supporters are demanding Yoon's immediate release from prison or the verification of election fraud allegations, which Yoon cited as a main reason for declaring martial law.
Simultaneously, protesters advocating for Yoon's ouster also gathered at Geumnam-ro. Police buses were positioned to prevent potential clashes between the two opposing groups. Around 20,000 protesters, as estimated by organizers, participated in the rally, chanting slogans such as "Uphold Yoon's impeachment" and "Out, far-right forces."