Civic groups demand Yoon step down for 2nd day over martial law declaration

SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Yonhap) -- Civic groups across the country gathered for the second consecutive day Thursday to call on President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down over his botched bid to impose martial law.

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), one of the largest umbrella labor unions in the country, and other civic groups held protests in Gyeryong and other parts of South Chungcheong Province, starting at 7:40 a.m., to demand Yoon's resignation.

The participants held banners that read, "Nullification of illegal emergency martial law is victory for democracy" and "Immediately arrest treasonous criminal Yoon Suk Yeol and his accomplices," while calling on people to take part in the joint action.

"We must take down President Yoon, who turned the clock of the Republic of Korea back 44 years, and make him pay for the terrifying 155 minutes," they said, referring to the duration after Yoon imposed martial law until the National Assembly voted to end it.

Starting at 5 p.m., the civic groups plan to hold resolution meetings in the central cities of Cheonan and Daejeon, and in front of Seosan City Hall.

In the central city of Chungju, eight local council members affiliated with the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) held a press conference demanding Yoon immediately step down from his post, saying his declaration of martial law "destroyed the spirit of the Constitution entirely."

They called the declaration a "challenge against the people" and an act that "unnerves the foundation of democracy."

Meanwhile, a network of 86 civic groups based in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, is to hold a rally at 7 p.m. at the May 18 Democracy Square, a plaza commemorating the pro-democracy uprising of 1980.

Other regions, including Busan, North Jeolla Province and Gangwon Province, are also expected to see rallies and candlelight vigils unfolding later in the day.

sookim@yna.co.kr
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