In Seoul’s historic Jongno District, a strong message of “8-0” was projected from loudspeakers and displayed on placards, signaling the presence of thousands of individuals who oppose the impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Gathered on Thursday, demonstrators urged for Yoon’s impeachment, anticipating that all eight acting justices of the nation’s Constitutional Court will endorse the impeachment motion passed by the National Assembly in mid-December, following a brief imposition of martial law by Yoon.
The final decision by the court on Friday will either lead to Yoon being deemed guilty and removed from office—triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days—or the president would be exonerated and resume office immediately.
The peaceful Anguk neighborhood, where the court is situated, has been heavily fortified by police, with over 14,000 officers deployed and certain areas, like the Anguk subway station and close-by schools, shut down to maintain order following the court’s ruling.
At Gyeongbokgung Palace, a student group performed energetically, as if celebrating, in anticipation of the impeachment decision they hoped would end a four-month-long dispute over Yoon’s political future.
Although confident in the court’s decision, some individuals like Song Hye-jung maintained a hint of uncertainty, considering the recent political turmoil.
With two acting presidents since Yoon’s suspension in December (including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was also impeached), and a record 38-day delay from the court in making its decision, speculation has arisen over potential dissenting votes within the court, suggesting that the ruling might not be a unanimous 8-0 against Yoon.
The case against Yoon revolves around five significant actions: his declaration of martial law, the crafting of a martial law decree, the deployment of troops to the National Assembly, the raid on the National Election Commission, and allegations of attempting to arrest politicians. These have been seen as efforts to supplant the constitutional government and halt political activities.
As the court’s decision looms, graduate law student Lim Hyeon-chang pointed out the protracted decision-making process, hinting at the court’s sensitivity to public sentiment.
Amid the protests, the presence of pro-Yoon supporters was minimal. Grace Kim, holding a “NO impeachment” poster, expressed her belief in Yoon’s reinstatement, deeming the suspension and impeachment processes as unlawful. “If the court rules differently, we will resist and fight for the truth,” she stated.
For supporters like Kim Gyun-hyeon, the potential rise of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung in a post-impeachment presidency presents a significant societal risk, labeling it as infiltration by pro-communist forces and a dangerous precedent of suspending a president through illicit means.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/4/downtown-seoul-tense-as-court-due-to-rule-on-president-yoons-impeachment?traffic_source=rss
