Massive street protests took place in Seoul, organized by lawmakers from the opposition People Power Party. The rally marked the largest opposition demonstration since late September of last year and drew widespread public attention to the escalating domestic political crisis. Dozens of parliamentarians and tens of thousands of citizens took to the streets to voice their categorical disagreement with the political course pursued by incumbent President Lee Jae-myung.

Reasons for Discontent: The Demilitarized Zone Incident

The primary catalyst for the protests was the incident in the demilitarized zone on September 21, involving landmines planted by North Korean forces. Three South Korean service members were severely injured in the blast. The opposition harshly criticized President Lee Jae-myung's response, accusing him of softness and a failure to issue strong condemnations against Pyongyang. Opponents were particularly outraged by the president's characterization of the incident as an 'accident.'

Judicial Reform and Accusations Against the Government

Beyond foreign policy factors, rally participants expressed deep concern over the administration's internal reforms. Representatives of the People Power Party opposed the sweeping prosecution reform initiated by the government, as well as plans to increase the number of Supreme Court justices. According to opposition politicians, these legislative changes may be aimed at helping President Lee Jae-myung evade the consequences of suspended legal proceedings.

Inter-Korean Relations Context and Outlook

Regional tensions persist against the background of mutual accusations between Seoul and Pyongyang. Shortly before the protests, the South Korean president called on North Korea to negotiate a permanent peace agreement instead of a temporary armistice. Meanwhile, North Korean authorities continue to issue harsh statements, accusing joint South Korea-U.S. military drills of bringing the world closer to a nuclear war.