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People fill the streets at the southeastern corner of Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul on March 11, 2025, at a rally calling for Yoon’s ouster organized by Bisang Action for Yoon Out & Social Reform, as part of a nightly relay of protests. (Park Go-eun/Hankyoreh)

“Last weekend, I saw an insurrection ringleader walk free with a smile on his face,” echoed a voice over a sea of people gathered in Seoul on Tuesday evening. “I was worried that all the hours I spent in the streets shouting every week were in vain. I was hit with a sense of anxiety that was even greater than what I felt during martial law.” 

The person was speaking to a crowd that had formed at the southeastern corner of Gyeongbok Palace at around 7 pm on Tuesday for an emergency rally to call for the ouster of President Yoon Suk-yeol — rallies that have been taking place each day this week.

The speaker called themselves “just another ordinary person protecting this public square with all of you,” and voiced horror and despair at the news of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s release from detention. 

“But I regrouped my thoughts and determined that I needed to go out and fight with greater determination than ever before,” they said to the shouts and applause of the crowd.   

The 150,000 people who attended Tuesday’s rally, organized by Bisang Action for Yoon Out & Social Reform, filled the sidewalks in front of Gyeongbok Palace. Attendees held signs that read, “Yoon Suk-yeol’s removal from office is the light of revolution” and “A new country for a new spring.” Protesters shouted, “Let’s finish the insurrection once and for all!” “Remove Yoon Suk-yeol from office!” and “Let’s protect democracy!” 

Protesters raised their voices in opposition to the court’s decision to release Yoon from detention and the prosecutors’ decision to forego an appeal. 

“I’m afraid that Yoon’s release will make people think that he is not guilty,” said Park Min-ji, a student at Kyonggi University, when she took the stage to speak. “I’m anxious that the released insurrection ringleader might destroy evidence or flee abroad.” 

“I’m also afraid that he will incite his far-right supporters to launch a second attack on the courts, like the one we saw on the Seoul Western District Court. The people are scared, but the prosecutors mocked the public by not appealing,” Park went on.

A protester who held a flag calling for anti-discrimination legislation also took the mic. 

“I’m angry at the court and the prosecutors, who are making exemptions for just one person, President Yoon,” they said. “It implies that they’re all on the same side.” 

The shock brought by images of Yoon’s release was major. A person surnamed Na, 28, who lives in Seoul’s Dongjak neighborhood, said, “I was so furious I couldn’t even look at the TV screen.” 

“Not only does he claim he didn’t do anything wrong, he seems to think he has a chance of returning to the presidency. I’m concerned that this brazen attitude will give the wrong message to his fanatical supporters,” Na said.

Protesters called for the Constitutional Court to move quickly to announce its verdict sustaining Yoon’s impeachment. Salaryman Oh Dong-seop, 38, said, “Once the terms of two Constitutional Court justices end in April, the situation could become even further drawn out, which is a problem in itself. But on top of that, social division will only get worse if his extremist supporters cause more trouble.”

“We need a quick verdict on impeachment for many reasons,” Oh said. 

Meanwhile, the co-chairpersons of Bisang Action continued their hunger strike, which entered its fourth day, at their encampment near Gwanghwamun Square. Workers from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions gathered nearby on the same day and vowed to hold a sit-down for two days and one night. 

By Park Go-eun, staff reporter

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