Protests calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol continue to erupt across the Korean communities in the U.S. In response, conservative Korean-American groups have issued statements opposing impeachment.
The debate over impeachment is expected to intensify leading up to the vote on the impeachment motion (scheduled for 12 a.m. on December 7, LA time).
In cities like Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, protests have been held for three consecutive days, with demonstrators calling for the resignation or impeachment of President Yoon over his responsibility in declaring martial law.
In Southern California, progressive groups have been staging protests in front of the Korean Consulate in Los Angeles since December 3, the day martial law was declared and subsequently lifted.
The Los Angeles Democratic Progressive Coalition, the Korean American Pastors Association, and the Korean American Religious Peace Council have issued a joint statement condemning President Yoon, saying, “Yoon Suk Yeol is a traitor who has led a constitutional coup. The Republic of Korea, with its unparalleled history of democracy, is collapsing from its roots and the livelihood of its people is in ruin,” calling for his resignation or impeachment.
The Korea Peace Now Grassroots Network, the Progressive Party Solidarity, and organizations like Nodutdol are also holding protests in locations such as the UN headquarters in New York, Manhattan’s Koreatown, and the San Francisco Federal Building, with signs calling for “Yoon Suk Yeol’s resignation.”
Choi Hyun-sook, the Washington DC organizer for Korea Peace Now, criticized, “President Yoon Suk Yeol abused his constitutional power to declare martial law. He betrayed the Korean people and has become an enemy of democracy. He is absolutely unfit for public office.”
More than 350 professors and researchers from across the U.S. have also signed a declaration calling for Yoon’s resignation, stating, “Must we again reclaim power through the strength of the people? There is no power that can go against the public sentiment,” urging him to step down.
Professor Shin Sun-woo (Department of Education, Oakland University, Michigan), who participated in the declaration, stated, “President Yoon has reacted emotionally to national issues, facing public anger and resistance. He is unqualified to lead the nation.”
Thirty-six Korean students and faculty members at Harvard University have also issued a joint statement criticizing the martial law declaration and calling for Yoon’s resignation. Local newspaper Boston Korea reported on December 3 that the group stated the martial law declaration was anti-democratic and called on President Yoon to take responsibility and resign.
On December 4, directors of Korean Studies departments from 13 universities across North America, including Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley, also issued a statement in English, criticizing President Yoon for reviving an authoritarian past. They condemned the martial law declaration as a direct violation of the Constitution and procedural laws.
Meanwhile, on December 5, 31 leaders of conservative organizations, including the Free Unification Federation, the Syngman Rhee Memorial Association, the Veterans Association of the U.S. West, and the Seattle Korean Association, issued a statement opposing President Yoon’s impeachment.
They expressed their deep empathy for the president’s difficult decision, stating, “We wholeheartedly support the president’s inevitable decision made with deep anguish in defense of freedom, democracy, and the Constitution, and we resolutely oppose impeachment.”
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
