SEOUL: Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shared darkish conspiracy theories and braved the freezing climate in central Seoul on Saturday (Dec 14) forward of an impeachment vote that might take away their chief from workplace.
Opinion polls confirmed on Friday that greater than 75% of the South Korean public believes Yoon ought to be impeached over final week’s failed try to impose the nation’s first martial regulation in a long time.
But a minority nonetheless helps him, gathering by the 1000’s in Seoul’s central sq. on Saturday morning to oppose the impeachment, arguing that the nation’s elections have been rigged and that pro-North Korea components had infiltrated the opposition.
“Yoon had no alternative however to declare martial regulation. I approve of each determination he made as president,” Choi Hee-sun, 62, instructed AFP, clutching a South Korean flag.
“It has been 100% statistically confirmed that our elections have been rigged,” he mentioned.
“We have absolute proof.”
The anti-Yoon protesters are predominantly younger and their demonstrations function a competition ambiance with slogans accompanied by Ok-pop songs, glow sticks and indulgent protest banners.
Yoon’s supporters are a lot older and their chants are decidedly much less upbeat.
One track declared: “If I may save my nation by sacrificing my life, I’d gladly do it.”
And a protester wearing navy uniform warned that the nation would come beneath the management of “pro-North Korea” forces if the impeachment goes forward.
This echoed Yoon’s personal phrases through the declaration of martial regulation, by which he promised to guard the nation from shadowy pro-communist actors.
“There are so many North Korean followers within the opposition now,” mentioned the 70-year-old protester, who requested to be recognized solely by his surname Yoon.
“We cannot belief them.”
And whereas parliamentarians will vote within the afternoon, a banner warns: “We can not entrust the steering wheel to loopy folks.”
Lee Young-sook, 72, mentioned such a state of affairs was “unimaginable.”
“Without the president the nation doesn’t exist,” he instructed AFP.
“I got here right here in the present day to guard my nation, regardless of the chilly.”
Conspiracy theories flourished on South Korean social media lengthy earlier than martial regulation was declared.
But many throughout the on-line conspiracy ecosystem felt vindicated by Yoon’s claims that the National Election Commission (NEC) was susceptible to exterior interference.
The NEC denied the allegations of interference and mentioned that “allegations of electoral fraud are… a self-denial of the electoral system that introduced it to energy.”
Yoon was elected in 2022 with the narrowest vote margin within the nation’s historical past.
But this didn’t please the loyalist Choi.
“If it hadn’t been rigged, Yoon would have received by greater than 20%,” he mentioned.
