Stars Join Protests Amid President Yoon's Impeachment Proceedings

As the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol was passed, various celebrities participated in protests and supported the movement through advance payments. On December 7 and 14, votes were held regarding the impeachment motion. The first vote on December 7 was automatically dismissed without opening the ballot box, but the second vote on December 14 saw 300 members of the National Assembly present for the proceedings.

The situation escalated on December 3 when President Yoon declared a state of emergency, shocking the nation. In response, lawmakers quickly moved to propose and pass a motion to lift the emergency, but the declaration itself from a sitting president in a democratic nation was unprecedentedly alarming.

Following this, calls for President Yoon's resignation and impeachment intensified. Daily protests were held in front of the National Assembly, showcasing a new culture of activism where supporters used light sticks instead of candles, and those unable to attend contributed through advance payments.

Among the notable figures supporting the protests was director Park Chan-wook. He utilized his film 'Decision to Leave' to amplify calls for impeachment and showed solidarity with the protesters. According to reports, Park purchased all the freshly baked goods from a bakery near the National Assembly and distributed them to attendees at the nearby rally. The bakery staff confirmed that he made the purchase directly through the owner, and the bakery expressed gratitude on social media for his generous act. The bags of bread featured stickers reading 'Decision to Part with Yoon Suk-yeol' and 'Do the people seem that easy to you?'. Park had previously joined a statement urging the impeachment of President Yoon.

As the second impeachment vote approached, many stars either attended the protests or supported them through advance payments, sharing messages of encouragement on social media. Notable names included Shin So-yul, Oh Dong-min, Ok Ja-yeon, Gong Seo-young, Ha:tfelt, Han Ye-ri, Jang Dong-yoon, Son Soo-hyun, Go Min-si, Pyo Ji-hoon (P.O), Kim Jae-wook, Ahn Bo-hyun, Lee Joon-hyuk, Tony An, Lee Dong-wook, Byeon Ki-soo, Noze, Lee Sang-mi, Go Won (I-DLE), Lee Chae-yeon, G-Dragon, Jeong Young-joo, Seo Hyun, Sweet Sorrow, Kim Yoon-a, Song Sun-mi, Nam Yoon-soo, Choi Min-sik, and Kim Ina.

Notably, singer Lee Seung-hwan performed at a rally in front of the National Assembly on December 13, declaring, "I am a singer specialized in impeachment rallies." He emphasized the importance of how one lives over what one becomes, expressing hope for a future where such protests are no longer necessary and where citizens do not have to donate their hard-earned money.

Celebrities voicing their political opinions can be a double-edged sword, as they may gain support but also face backlash. However, those who spoke out ahead of the impeachment vote did so as citizens first, resonating deeply with the public. The involvement of influential figures drew more attention to the issue, leading to the successful passage of the impeachment motion.

The second impeachment motion was passed with 204 votes in favor, 84 against, 3 abstentions, and 8 invalid votes. Many citizens celebrated the outcome, and stars joined in the joy, expressing their hopes for a renewed and vigorous South Korea. The sight of celebrities sharing in the citizens' happiness was truly moving.