Boiling Point
Boiling Point: Crisis in South KOrea, December 2024.
Protesters chant for Yoon's impeachment ahead of the first vote on December 7, 2024.
Protesters chant and hold up signs ahead of the first impeachment vote. December 7, 2024.
A woman representing Workers' Solidarity holds up a newspaper calling for Yoon's resignation after his martial law attempt. December 7, 2024.
Members of the National Union of Media Workers hold up signs calling for freedom of speech during the Yeouido rally on December 7, 2024.
A protester fashions a cone hat out of his protest sign. December 7, 2024.
A group of women hold signs which, together, call for Yoon's resignation. December 7, 2024.
A protester holds up a sign calling for Yoon's impeachment during the Yeouido rally on December 7, 2024.
The crowd gathered in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido. December 7, 2024.
A candlelight protester who helped me climb onto a platform when things got too crowded. December 7, 2024.
A protester holding up a pro-impeachment sign during the Yeouido protest on December 7, 2024.
Candlelight protester, December 7, 2024.
A protester with many pro-impeachment signs. December 7, 2024.
Candlelight protesters hold up their light sticks and pro-impeachment signs. December 7, 2024.
The crowd in front of the National Assembly chant with their signs and light sticks after the PPP walkout nullifies the first impeachment vote. December 7, 2024.
The crowd gathered in front of the National Assembly waits for the second impeachment vote on December 14, 2024. On the screen, Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae states that "May 1980 saved December 2024".
The crowd in front of the National Assembly waits in silence shortly before the results of the second impeachment vote are announced. December 14, 2024.
A protester eagerly awaits the results of the second impeachment vote. December 14, 2024.
Protesters celebrate in the minutes after the second impeachment vote passes. December 14, 2024.
Protesters celebrate in the minutes after the second impeachment vote passes. December 14, 2024.
Protesters celebrate in the minutes after the second impeachment vote passes. December 14, 2024.
Protesters celebrate in the minutes after the second impeachment vote passes. December 14, 2024.
Protesters celebrate in the minutes after the second impeachment vote passes. December 14, 2024.
Protesters walk over a sign denouncing the PPP lawmakers who staged a walkout during the first impeachment vote. December 14, 2024.
Protesters celebrate in the minutes after the second impeachment vote passes. December 14, 2024.
Conservative protester in Gwanghwamun, December 14, 2024.
Conservative protesters chant and hold up signs calling for the impeachment motion's reversal and investigation of DPK leaders, December 14, 2024.
A conservative protester holds up a large sign in Gwanghwamun, December 14, 2024.
Conservative protesters in Gwanghwamun, December 14, 2024.
A conservative protester holds up a newspaper which says that the martial law declaration was justified, December 14, 2024.
A conservative protester holds up a sign calling for Moon Jae-in's (former Democratic president of Korea) execution, December 14, 2024.
Conservative protesters in Gwanghwamun, December 14, 2024.
Conservative protesters in Gwanghwamun, December 14, 2024.
Conservative protesters in Gwanghwamun, December 14, 2024.
A large flag at the conservative protest in Gwanghwamun, December 14, 2024.
A democracy in Crisis after a failed attempt at Martial Law.
On December 3, 2024, the Korean public was shocked at the declaration of emergency martial law in the late hours of the evening.
For many, this sudden imposition of martial law was reminiscent of the days of military dictatorship in South Korea under which the people struggled greatly until the introduction of democracy in the 1990s.
Boiling Point is an ongoing project documenting the current period of civil unrest in South Korea following President Yoon Suk-Yeol’s abortive attempt at imposing martial law on December 3, 2024.