A residential complex in Seoul’s Jongno District descended into chaos on the evening of Feb. 19 as protesters gathered outside a building believed to be the home of Moon Hyung-bae, acting president of the Constitutional Court.
The demonstration turned violent when a man in his early 30s, returning home from work, tried to pass through the crowd. He brushed aside a protester’s sign blocking the sidewalk, prompting a confrontation. After muttering an expletive in frustration, protesters grabbed him by the collar, escalating the encounter into a physical altercation. They hurled insults, calling him a “communist” and likening him to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. The man fell backward as the crowd pushed him.
Police arrived shortly after to defuse the situation, but protesters continued shouting insults as the man walked away.
Supporters of President Yoon Suk-yeol have been staging daily protests outside the building since Feb. 17, claiming Moon is unfairly handling Yoon’s impeachment trial. Protesters occupy the sidewalk near the apartment’s rear entrance, waving South Korean flags and holding signs that read, “Stop the biased impeachment” and “Arrest Moon Hyung-bae.” Using loudspeakers and air horns, they chant slogans such as “Protect President Yoon.”
The noise has disrupted nearby businesses and homes, with protesters on both sides of the street using stadium-style noisemakers. Some even gathered outside a nearby hospital, despite it not being a designated protest zone.
Clashes between protesters and residents have become frequent. On Feb. 18, an argument broke out during rush hour when pedestrians tried to navigate the crowd. One resident shouted, “Shame on you!” while walking by, prompting several protesters to chase after him.
In another incident, a protester confronted a passerby who gave a disapproving look. “What’s your problem? Come here!” the protester yelled, adding, “Should I just kill you?” A woman walking with her child was also confronted after covering her child’s ears.
“Regardless of political stance, this has gone too far,” one resident said. “Even Yoon supporters living here are getting fed up.” Another passerby added, “I heard the noise and thought a war had broken out. Complaints and police reports don’t seem to make any difference.”
Adding to the controversy, it remains unclear whether Moon still lives in the apartment. Residents claim he moved out a month ago.
“Moon Hyung-bae doesn’t live here anymore,” one resident told protesters, but they dismissed the claim, replying, “Just keep walking.”
A 60-year-old woman who confronted the protesters said apartment management confirmed Moon is not listed as a resident. “I checked the resident roster myself, and his name isn’t there,” she said. A nearby real estate agent also stated that Moon had relocated.
However, protesters remain unconvinced. “The claim that Moon moved out is fake news,” a protest leader said. “If he really left, why would the police still guard the building? This is all part of a scheme to hinder us.”
Weekly Chosun reviewed the official property registry for the address but found no record of Moon’s ownership.
The protests are led by a group founded by former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn to investigate alleged election fraud. The group, active in rallies opposing Yoon’s impeachment, previously shared information with Rep. Kim Sang-hoon of the ruling People Power Party (PPP).
“This protest is working,” one group member said. “We’ve seen Moon’s official court vehicle turn away from the apartment entrance. The pressure is real, and it’s effective.”
The ruling PPP expressed concern about the protests' impact on the neighborhood.
“Protests in front of someone’s home affect not just the individual but the entire community, including their family,” a party spokesperson said. However, the party also defended its support for Moon’s impeachment motion, stating that 78 lawmakers were preparing to submit the proposal.
A PPP official added, “Public distrust in the judiciary, from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials to the Seoul Western District Court and the Constitutional Court, is what’s driving people into the streets. We will closely monitor the Yoon impeachment trial to prevent further unfairness.”
Political analysts remain skeptical about the protests' effectiveness. While participants may have different motives, they said, demonstrations aimed at stopping Yoon’s impeachment are unlikely to succeed.
“Some protesters are simply livestreaming the rallies for donations. From their perspective, the protest has already achieved its goal,” said Eom Ki-hong, a political science professor at Kyungpook National University and former adviser to the National Assembly Research Service and the National Election Commission.
Eom added, “As pro- and anti-impeachment rallies grow in size, it becomes even more crucial for the Constitutional Court to base its ruling solely on solid evidence, not public sentiment.”
Jang Seung-jin, a political science professor at Kookmin University, called the protests “problematic in both method and impact” and doubted they would influence the court’s decision.
“Freedom of assembly and expression must be protected, but clear boundaries are needed,” Jang said. “This is where political leadership should step in.”
