Even before the vote, more than 200,000 people were estimated to have gathered outside the parliament building. When it became clear that 204 members had voted for and 85 against, cheers also erupted. I’m so happy I can’t put it into words. If it hadn’t happened today, I would have planned to come back every week. It feels meaningful to be present at such a historic moment, says 31-year-old Yeo So-Yeon. The celebration took place to a mix of Christmas carols and South Korean pop music, including “Into the New World,” a K-pop song that has become something of an official protest song in connection with the demonstrations against the sitting president. When the news came, everyone started crying, including myself. We are the true owners of this country,” said another protester, Seong Jeong-Lim. When Yoon Suk-Yeol is formally served with the impeachment decision, he is immediately suspended from office. Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo is appointed as president until the Constitutional Court decides in a final step whether Yoon should be removed. The president admits in a televised speech that he will leave his post, but he does not apologize for his actions, saying that there has been too much “exaggeration and confrontation” in politics. Even if I now have to step aside for a while, the journey towards the future must never stop, says Yoon.
t4-general