Yonhap reported that according to preliminary estimates by South Korean police, there were about 150,000 people gathering to protest on both sides opposing and supporting the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
South Korean police mobilized about 6,400 police officers and 230 police buses to control the crowd. The protest ended the same evening without a major clash.
The protest to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol began near the Gwanghwamun area in central Seoul and Yeouido in western Seoul at 1 p.m. Police estimate that up to 120,000 people participated in the protests at these two locations.
The participants carried banners opposing the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol and supporting his declaration of martial law. Many people waved flags of Korea and the US and shouted the name of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Meanwhile, a protest organized by the opposition Democratic Party (DP) and four other opposition parties took place in central Seoul at 3:30 p.m. calling for the removal of Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol. According to unofficial police estimates, about 18,000 people gathered to participate in the protest near Anguk Station, where the Constitutional Court is located. According to the opposition Democratic Party, about 130 lawmakers attended the protest.
At 5:00 p.m., another group of protests calling for the overthrow of President Yoon Suk Yeol held a protest in central Seoul, with about 15,000 participants, according to police estimates. Those participating in the protest raised banners supporting the impeachment of Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol, shouting the slogan welcoming democracy and ending the rebellion.
The protests came after the Constitutional Court held a final hearing on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol on February 25 and began discussions on whether to remove or reinstate Yoon Suk Yeol.
