Demanding President Yoon’s Resignation! The Shinjuku Rally and Memories of That Day

Demand the Resignation of President Yoon! Rally in Shinjuku, Japan

Reflecting on That Day

When I was still a boy, I vividly remember watching the footage of the Gwangju Uprising on TV with bated breath and feeling deep pain. All the adults around me were enraged. One day, after the citizens’ resistance was suppressed by the martial law forces, I clearly recall reading the following sentence on a leaflet I received from somewhere:

“We are deeply ashamed that not a single demonstration was held in Kyoto during the Gwangju Uprising.”

Later, I started participating in movements and protests such as the campaign to rescue Kim Dae-jung and prevent his execution. The people of Korea endured immense sacrifices to achieve democratization, and now they are once again striving to protect the democracy they secured through these noble sacrifices.

Time has passed, and I have grown from a boy into a middle-aged man. Reflecting on those times, I would like to introduce an initiative I recently (or rather, just yesterday) learned about. It is regrettable that no significant efforts led by Japanese citizens are taking place.

Kousuke Souka (2025/01/15)

Demand the Resignation of President Yoon! Rally in Shinjuku, Japan

Rally Details

A rally calling for the resignation of Yoon Seok-yeol will be held in Tokyo.

■ Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025, 16:30~18:30

■ Venue: JR Shinjuku Station South Exit Plaza
〒160-0022 Shinjuku 3-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

– You may bring penlights, electronic candles, paper slogans, etc.
– Open to Korean residents in Japan, international students, workers, and tourists.
– The event’s end time is subject to change depending on circumstances.

■ Organizer: Tokyo Yoon Seok-yeol Resignation Rally Promotion Association
https://x.com/tokyomovementkr
https://www.instagram.com/tokyomovementkr/
Contact: tokyomovementkr@gmail.com

We are conducting a survey for those who wish to participate or apply to give a speech. Please join via the links below.
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About the Organizing Group

The group is called the “Tokyo Yoon Seok-yeol Resignation Rally Promotion Association.” It is an organization of ordinary Korean residents in Japan who have gathered to voice their concerns regarding the current situation. This is a temporary group formed specifically to organize impeachment rallies and plans to disband at an undetermined time in the future. Upon disbandment, any remaining funds will be donated to groups organizing impeachment rallies within South Korea.

Statement of Koreans Residing in Japan Demanding Yoon Seok-yeol’s Resignation (December 12, 2024)

※The following is a provisional translation by HataHata AI. Click here for the original text.

[Let Our Voices Be Heard]
– Statement by Koreans Residing in Japan Demanding Yoon Seok-yeol’s Resignation –

On the night of the 3rd of this month, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration suddenly declared an unconstitutional martial law and deployed martial law forces to the legislative body, the National Assembly, and the constitutional body, the National Election Commission. This martial law, declared without proper procedure for illogical purposes, was swiftly revoked thanks to the efforts of citizens who rushed to the National Assembly and the 190 lawmakers who passed a resolution demanding its repeal. However, the safety of citizens and the stability of the nation remain under threat.
Yoon Seok-yeol, who should bear responsibility for this situation, has remained silent, abandoning his duties as president and relinquishing his qualification as the head of state.

On the 7th, the National Assembly held an impeachment vote against Yoon Seok-yeol, but the ruling party avoided accountability for their treasonous acts, claiming they would not hand over power to the opposition, and walked out of the assembly. This was a betrayal of the citizens who elected them and a clear overreach of their authority. Lawmakers from the People Power Party are no longer representatives of the people but merely criminals complicit in treason.

Standing on foreign soil, we witnessed through screens the collapse of the daily lives of our Korean compatriots.
Standing on foreign soil, we saw through screens the scenes of national sovereignty being violated.
Now, we join our voices here, from this foreign land, to protect the democracy of South Korea. We add our cries that will no longer remain on the other side of the screen and contribute to the power of solidarity that will reach compatriots around the world.

We have endured the pain of the Korean War, the dark days of the Yushin regime, and numerous democratic struggles to build the democracy of the Republic of Korea. And now, we are determined to rebuild democracy once again without letting it collapse.

We are citizens of the democratic Republic of Korea and global citizens of a democratic society.

In the name of the citizens of the Republic of Korea and in the name of global citizens of a democratic society, we demand the resignation of Yoon Seok-yeol, the ringleader of treason threatening democracy, and his collaborators.

December 12, 2024
Tokyo Yoon Seok-yeol Resignation Rally Promotion Association

Scenes from the Resignation Rally at Shinjuku on Dec. 14, 2024

Cheers erupted at the scene as news of the impeachment motion’s approval by the National Assembly was announced.

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