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A crowd fills the streets outside Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul on March 29, 2025, for a rally calling for the immediate ouster of Yoon Suk-yeol. (Kim Hye-yun/Hankyoreh)

“We can no longer wait. There can be no more hesitation. There’s no other move,” boomed a voice above a crowd of thousands of protesters gathered in Gwanghwamun on Saturday.  “We have brought our struggle to the gates of the National Assembly and to Namtaeryeong, to Hannam and to Gwanghwamun Square. Now we take it to the Constitutional Court.”

The voice belonged to Kim Jae-ha, the co-chair of the Bisang Action for Yoon Out and Social Reform, which organized its 17th mass rally to call for the ouster of President Yoon Suk-yeol on Saturday. Participants in the rally marched through Seoul’s old downtown and ended up in front of the Hyundai Building next to the Constitutional Court, where they shouted: “Let’s end the insurrection! Removal from office is the answer!” 

Up until now, pro-impeachment protesters have avoided the court out of concern for clashes with anti-impeachment protesters and out of respect for the justices. But on Saturday, they faced the court and made their voices heard more directly than ever before.

Participants in Saturday’s rally for Yoon’s ouster chant outside the Constitutional Court in Seoul’s Jongno District. (Lim Jae-hee/Hankyoreh)

Saturday marked 106 days since the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol was submitted to the Constitutional Court. At Saturday’s rally outside Gyeongbok Palace, protesters expressed anxiety, saying they could wait no longer for Yoon to be removed. Many denounced the Constitutional Court for failing to provide a clear answer as to why deliberations have gone on so long.

Handmade flags and signs also called for the Constitutional Court to swiftly announce a verdict. One protester held a sign depicting a person suddenly relieved of chest pains. The caption read, “How long must we wait?” One sign showed a cute character along with the message, “I’ve waited long enough.” A flag bearing the message, “Just why?” fluttered in the wind, expressing frustration regarding the court’s delayed verdict. 

“If you’re delayed, at least tell us why,” Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae said, taking the mic at Saturday’s rally.

“The Constitutional Court was created to defend the Constitution. The country is going to pieces with every moment that such a court refuses to obey the mandate of the people, who demand that Yoon Suk-yeol, the destroyer of our Constitution, be brought to justice,” Park went on.

Park and the protesters addressed all eight Constitutional Court justices by name while shouting their demands. 

Protesters worried that the verdict is being delayed because of the extreme threats from Yoon supporters and political concerns. Kim Bu-mi, who introduced herself as an education worker, said while tearing up, “Please just think of our future generations. Don’t listen to the brazen lies of the insurrection ringleader and his accomplices.” 

Cho Yu-jeong, 33, who lives in Incheon, said, “As a democratic citizen, I am peacefully making my voice heard in the name of democracy, but I can’t shake the suspicion that the court is heeding the threats of the other side [Yoon supporters], which makes me feel indignant and frustrated.” 

“If it continues to not issue a decision about something that the entire country witnessed, I have no choice but to feel that the Constitutional Court is sympathetic to insurrection,” she warned. 

Signs brought by protesters to the rally on March 29, 2025. (Lim Jae-hee/Hankyoreh)

Folk singer Chong Tae-chun took the stage to say, “The Republic of Korea stands before a wall of barbarism, a wall of incitement and the madness of blind loyalty, a wall of ignorance and fascism. End the long winter. Break down the barbarians’ wall.”

Many people attended the rally with their kids. Jeong Tae-mi, 45, held a sign that read, “I call for Yoon Suk-yeol to be removed from office. Signed, a mother of an 8-year-old daughter.” 

“My kid started elementary school this year,” Jeong said. “I want her to have a bright future, but it pains me that she has to see such a difficult situation.” 

“I would like to give a start to a bright future [by having Yoon impeached],” Jeong said. 

Hwang Ho-seong, 59, an air conditioner repairman who came with his daughter Eun-seol, 13, said, “The country is on pause, so it’s difficult to make a living.” 

“I wanted to show my daughter that on this cold day, there are people working for Yoon’s removal, and that I’m one of them. I wanted to send a message to her that the future generation needs to continue defending the country that we’ve painstakingly preserved.”  

Noh Yu-geun walked onstage to tell the story of how she came with her son, who’s in the sixth grade. “Please give a round of applause to the parents who came with their children, to give them hope and to welcome them.” The crowd responded with uproarious applause. 

Participants in the rally on March 29, 2025, for Yoon’s ouster hold up signs as they chant in unison. (Kim Hye-yun/Hankyoreh)

Bisang Action is planning on holding all-night sit-in demonstrations and civic marches in front of the Constitutional Court this week.

“No matter how much the insurrectionist forces resort to despicable language to threaten democracy, like the blindfolded Lady Justice, the Constitutional Court must implement justice according to the principles of the law and their conscience,” said Lee Seung-hun, the head of the organization’s joint steering committee.

“Yet over 100 days after the impeachment motion was passed by the National Assembly, we don’t even have a date for the verdict,” he went on.

“Bisang Action, which has focused its efforts alongside wise and brave citizens, is now heading to the Constitutional Court.” 

By Lim Jae-hee, staff reporter

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