Seoul: The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea organized a rally in Seoul on Saturday, rallying support for President Yoon Suk Yeol's resignation. According to Yonhap News Agency, the rally was initially planned to take place in Daejeon but was relocated to coincide with a demonstration by civic groups, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), a significant labor group with over 1.2 million members. The rally was a part of a larger movement named "The Headquarters of the Movement for the Resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol," which consists of 43 groups, including the KCTU. The event also commemorated Jeon Tae-il, a historic labor activist, and was held near Deoksugung's gate. The Democratic Party, alongside four other opposition parties, participated in a separate rally near Sungnyemun, where discussions of President Yoon's impeachment were raised, though the Democratic Party framed its demands differently. The Democratic Party has announced plans for another rally on November 1 6, potentially aligning with another rally by the movement's headquarters. This suggests a potential merger of their demonstrations in the future. Significantly, the rally's timing coincided with a recent court ruling sentencing a former senior KCTU staff member to 15 years in prison for espionage activities linked to North Korea. Two other union officials received sentences ranging from five to seven years for similar charges. The court found that they had engaged with North Korean operatives, organizing anti-government activities and pledging loyalty to Pyongyang. Despite these developments, the KCTU has not issued an apology and remains active in its calls for President Yoon's resignation. The current KCTU leader, a former member of the Gyeonggi Dongbu Union, is associated with the National Liberation faction, which historically advocated for North Korean cooperation and the withdrawal of US forces from South Korea. This affiliation raises questions about the union's political leanings, especially given its prior associations with Lee Suk-ki, a former lawmaker imprisoned for sedition. The Progressive Party, formed by former members of the disbanded Unified Progressive Party, has gained political traction, securing three National Assembly seats in recent elections. However, the Democratic Party's past collaborations with this group have sparked allegations of being influenced by pro-North Korean elements, a claim that remains contentious. The rallies come at a crucial time, as the court prepares to rule on Lee's alleged election law violations. The political landscape is tense, with implications for both the opposition's strategy and the ongoing discourse surrounding North Korea's influence in South Korea's politics.