South Korean opposition rallies against President Lee Jae-myung in Seoul

Large protests against South Korean President Lee Jae-myung took place in central Seoul on October 3, led by lawmakers from the main opposition People Power Party, who criticized his policies. Nearly 70 lawmakers, led by party leader Chang Dong-hyuk, joined the rally, which opposition organizers estimated drew about 200,000 people. A key trigger was the government's response to a September 21 landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone that injured three South Korean soldiers, with opposition accusing Lee of a weak reaction toward North Korea. Protesters also opposed Lee's prosecution reform and a plan to increase Supreme Court justices, claiming these changes could shield the president from legal proceedings. The administration frames the reform as a redistribution of powers. This was the party's first major street action since late September 2025.