Seoul residents voices support for Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment

Residents in the South Korean city of Seoul expressed frustration and concern about their future followinging President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment due to his failed attempt to impose martial law, which sent shockwaves through the country's economy.

South Korea's parliament on Saturday passed the second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol over his martial law declaration. Of 300 lawmakers of the unicameral National Assembly attending the historical plenary session, 204 voted in favor and 85 against, with three abstentions and eight voided.

With the parliamentary approval, the constitutional court will deliberate the impeachment for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's constitutional power will be suspended and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will be an acting president.

In the street interviews with China Global Television Network (CGTN), South Koreans in Seoul have voiced support for the impeachment, accusing Yoon of undermining democracy.

"I believe the decision is a step forward restoring society through the power of South Korea's democracy," said office worker Kim Jin-seong.

"l believe it's a matter of undermining democracy. I think the impeachment should proceed, and someone who truly understands democracy should become the next president," said Park Dae-sun, a university student.

Economic impact was a primary concern among those interviewed, and the turmoil has also fueled anxieties about the nation's stability and economic future.

"I believe this incident has caused the entire South Korean population to live in fear and harmed the economy.  I think he is unfit to be president," said Lee So-yoen, office worker.

"The economy was already tough, and this turmoil made diplomatic issues even more severe and worsened the economy. Many citizens who hold stocks are struggling, and there are also those finding it difficult due to the rising exchange rates. Small business owners are also suffering from worsening economic conditions. I believe this has had a very negative impact on the national economy," said Kim Jin-seong.

Seoul residents voices support for Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment

Beijing, capital of China, saw an increased number of inbound visits during this year's three-day Qingming Festival holiday which started on Friday, according to data from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.

Data shows that Beijing recorded over 9.59 million visits during the holiday, indicating a 6.2-percent increase compared with the same period in 2024. Based on the visits, the city saw a total tourism expenditure of 11.5 billion yuan (about 1.57 billion U.S. dollars), up 9.5 percent year on year.

Among the figures, the city received 69,000 visits made by overseas inbound tourists, a year-on-year increase of 45.6 percent. International tourism expenditure in Beijing reached 740 million yuan (about 101.19 million U.S. dollars), indicating a significant year-on-year growth of 46.2 percent.

Qingming Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox. Often seen as a time to enjoy the greenery of springtime and to visit the graves of ancestors, the holiday has also become a busy period for cultural and tourism activities in China.

Inbound visits to Beijing see robust increase during Qingming holiday