The area around the Seoul High Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, was bustling with preparations for demonstrations by both supporters and opponents of the Democratic Party ahead of the first trial verdict for Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
Since the morning of the 15th, the area around Seocho-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, including the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office and the Seoul Central District Court, was chaotic with demonstrators and YouTubers preparing for gatherings. Before the trial scheduled for 2:30 PM that day, the atmosphere on both sides had been intensifying since the morning.
Groups criticizing the Democratic Party, such as the “New Freedom Solidarity,” were busy setting up more than 250 seats and large speakers from 9 AM. A representative from New Freedom Solidarity stated, “The conservative rally begins at 12 PM, but we are preparing in advance.” They reported an expected turnout of 1,000 people (flexible) at the east gate of the Central District Prosecutors’ Office until the end of the trial.
Starting around 8:50 AM, New Freedom Solidarity had already mounted a banner saying “Arrest Lee Jae-myung” on a large truck and repeatedly shouted “Arrest Lee Jae-myung” over the microphone, alongside playing songs like “Amor Fati” and “Lady in the Rain.” A YouTuber used a loudspeaker to criticize the leader loudly.
A woman in her 70s, who arrived at the protest site early morning, said, “I left Incheon at 7 AM with nothing but the country’s best interest at heart, and for that, Lee Jae-myung must be arrested.”
On the other side, the “Innovation Assembly of Democratic Nationalists” reported an expected 5,000 people (flexible) for a counter-rally at the west gate of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office from 11 AM until the end of the trial.
Around 10 AM, supporters from opposition parties were busy preparing their own demonstrations, blasting Psy’s “Gangnam Style” loudly enough to be heard across eight lanes of traffic. One opposition supporter was seen waving a giant flag with “Prosecutor Dictatorship” written on it.
Both sides of the demonstrators claimed to be participating out of a “heart to save the country.”
Choi Yeon-seon, a 65-year-old supporter of the Democratic Party for over 25 years, said, “The current prosecution intends to bring down Lee Jae-myung as political prosecutors,” adding that people should be upright for the country to prosper, expressing their support for Lee Jae-myung.
Jung Chan-joo, a 73-year-old participant in the Democratic Party protest, said, “We were taught to be honest and truthful,” expressing his belief that Lee Jae-myung lacked the basics, and that he attended the protest for the good of the country.
As the protests became heated, a Democratic Party supporter approached the east side of the Prosecutor’s Office, where the Democratic Party criticism group was, cursed, and was restrained by the police. The supporter angrily remarked “Park Geun-hye and Roh Tae-woo benefited more,” leading to a confrontation where the criticism group participants responded with curses.