Progressive civic group holds protest rally outside U.S. Embassy

▲ Protesters from Candlelight Action, a progressive civic group, hold a rally outside the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on May 2, 2026. (Yonhap)

▲ A conservative civic group stages a rally in support of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in central Gwanghwamun in Seoul, on May 2, 2026. (Yonhap)

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Progressive civic group holds protest rally outside U.S. Embassy

SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- A progressive civic group held a protest rally outside the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on Saturday, chanting slogans accusing the United States of interfering in South Korea's domestic affairs.

An estimated 500 protesters, according to police, gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in central Gwanghwamun, holding placards condemning the U.S. for undermining South Korea's sovereignty and interfering in its domestic affairs by requesting that Seoul lift an exit ban on Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of K-pop entertainment powerhouse Hybe.

They also charged that the U.S. is "attacking" President Lee Jae Myung because Lee has refused to provide support for its war against Iran and is seeking an early transfer of wartime operational control from the U.S.

They denounced Washington for restricting intelligence-sharing with Seoul on North Korea after taking issue with what it sees as Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's unilateral disclosure of shared intelligence on an unidentified North Korean nuclear facility, as well as for nominating Michelle Park Steel, a conservative former Republican lawmaker, as its new ambassador to South Korea.

The participants from the civic group, "Candlelight Action," had been marching from Jonggak Station before stopping in front of the embassy compound to stage the rally.

Police issued two warnings over loudspeakers, telling them to continue marching, and no clashes occurred as the protesters complied with police instructions.

Hours earlier, around 6,000 protesters affiliated with a conservative group, led by hard-line activist pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, staged a separate demonstration in Gwanghwamun.

They justified ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law as a right that can be exercised by a leader "if the country is in trouble."

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