By Soh Ji-young
Staff Reporter

The nation on Friday responded with utter shock and disbelief after the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against President Roh Moo-hyun, expressing fear over what kind of future lays ahead for the troubled country.

``I’m at a loss for words. Today will be remembered as the darkest day in the nation’s history,’’ said Shin Hee-jun, a 29-year-old office worker in Seoul.

Yoo Tae-kyong, 43, said, ``As a Korean citizen, I cannot forgive the lawmakers for bringing down the president for their political interests. Can they really say they have nothing to be ashamed of in front of the people?’’

Some vowed to make the Grand National Party and the Millennium Democratic Party _ the two opposition parties who voted to oust Roh from office _ pay for their actions through the April 15 general elections.

In front of the National Assembly in Yoido, Seoul, more than 15,000 people, including activists and students. took part in a candlelight rally protesting Roh’s impeachment late into the night and urging the National Assembly to disband.

Another massive rally is scheduled to be held today in Kwanghwamun, organizers said.

Progressive civic groups also strongly condemned the National Assembly’s move as a ``parliamentary coup d’ etat’’ and declared they will engage in a ``civil disobedience’’ movement against the impeachment.

``We will launch a nationwide struggle with the people to protest Roh’s impeachment,’’ the groups said.

But there were also many people who voiced support for the impeachment move, saying that it was an inevitable turn of events.

``Since the president’s rash comments sparked the impeachment, he should take responsibility for the current state of affairs,’’ said Byun Yong-uk, a 35-year-old company worker.

Conservative groups welcomed the passing of the impeachment motion, saying that the decision will mark an end to the political disarray which marred state affairs since Roh took office.

As the entire nation was gripped with heightened tension and anxiety, disruptive commotion and accidents were reported across the country.

Not long after the Assembly approved the impeachment motion, a Roh supporter attempted to set fire to himself at a rooftop of a building in Chongju, North Chungchong Province. The 43-year-old man poured paint thinner over his body and tried to set himself aflame but was blocked by police.

It was the second time that such an incident occurred after a member of ``Nosamo,’’ a group of Roh’s followers, set fire to himself in front of the National Assembly on Thursday evening in protest of the impeachment motion. He is currently reported to be in stable condition.

Early in the morning, a man allegedly protesting the impeachment motion against President Roh Moo-hyun crashed his car into the main building of the National Assembly in the morning and set the car on fire.

The 44-year-old man, identified by the last name Kim, drove his car into the stairs of the main building of the National Assembly compound at around 6:30 a.m. He then poured gasoline onto the car and set it ablaze, police said.

``I’ll kill you all!’’ he was quoted as shouting before security officers managed to pull him away after a scuffle.

Kim suffered from minor facial injuries, but no one else was hurt from the incident, police said.

Civic leaders urged the public to remain calm and requested government leaders to do their utmost to minimize confusion in governing state affairs.

``The public must try not to be disturbed and focus on their jobs and ordinary lives. They must not lose hope for Korean politics and the country,’’ said Shim Sang-yong of the YMCA.

The National Police Agency, meanwhile, put all police forces on high alert to prepare against any accidents or events from occurring in the high-strung atmosphere.

jysoh@koreatimes.co.kr