Yoon Faces Removal as Constitutional Court Delivers Verdict \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ South Korea’s Constitutional Court is set to rule on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment following his controversial martial law declaration. The verdict will either remove him from office or restore his powers. Tensions are high nationwide, with mass protests and tight security around the court.
Yoon Impeachment Verdict Looms Quick Looks
- Constitutional Court to decide President Yoon’s fate Friday
- Martial law declaration triggered impeachment and political chaos
- Six of eight justices must uphold impeachment for removal
- Ruling will either reinstate or permanently oust Yoon
- Thousands of protesters gather in downtown Seoul amid heavy security
- Yoon accused of dispatching troops to detain lawmakers
- Opposition rally features patriotic music, protest mascots, and slogans
- If removed, a new election must be held within 60 days
- Court session nationally televised; security measures intensify near courthouse
- Prime Minister Han urges unity regardless of ruling outcome
Deep Look
South Korea stands on edge as the Constitutional Court convenes Friday to deliver its historic verdict on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking the culmination of months of political turbulence and public outrage. At the heart of the case lies Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law last December—an unprecedented move in the country’s post-democratic era that ignited a constitutional crisis and brought his presidency to a halt.
The court’s eight justices will begin delivering the verdict in a nationally televised session at 11 a.m. local time. A vote of at least six justices in favor is required to permanently remove Yoon from office. Should the court reject the impeachment, Yoon would immediately regain the powers of the presidency. If the ruling upholds impeachment, a new presidential election must be held within 60 days.
The martial law declaration on December 3 lasted just six hours before it was rescinded following a swift and overwhelming backlash from the liberal-controlled National Assembly, which voted to revoke the measure. Later that month, lawmakers formally impeached Yoon, suspending his executive powers and transferring leadership duties to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
Yoon is also facing a separate criminal trial for alleged rebellion, further complicating his political and legal future. His administration, already embattled, now hangs in the balance as the court deliberates whether his actions violated the nation’s highest laws.
Mass Mobilization and High Tension in Seoul
Ahead of the ruling, Seoul transformed into a fortress, with hundreds of police vehicles, fiberglass barricades, and portable walls sealing off the area around the Constitutional Court. Security forces erected layers of fencing and roadblocks, tying the wheels of parked police vans to prevent protesters from moving them. Pedestrians were funneled through narrow, ID-checked corridors, and officers instructed them to walk only in straight lines.
Despite the heavy police presence, thousands of demonstrators—both supporters and critics of President Yoon—flooded downtown Seoul. The atmosphere varied by crowd: opposition rallies took on a near-festive tone, with protesters waving flags, chanting slogans, and donning protest costumes, including blue bear mascots symbolizing the liberal Democratic Party.
In Gwanghwamun Plaza, massive screens broadcast the courtroom proceedings. Supporters of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung cheered and chanted as justices read through the lengthy ruling. Protesters recorded the moment on their phones, leaning forward with visible anticipation.
The Core of the Impeachment Case
The most explosive element of Yoon’s impeachment centers on his use of military force during the brief martial law declaration. According to multiple testimonies, Yoon ordered troops and riot police to surround the National Assembly, election offices, and other key sites—allegedly in an effort to detain political rivals and block the legislature from voting to overturn martial law.
Though no violence occurred and the martial law period ended swiftly, the impeachment charges accuse Yoon of violating the Constitution by undermining the independence of the legislature, abusing executive authority, and attempting to suppress the democratic process.
In his defense, Yoon has claimed the move was a “desperate attempt” to expose the wickedness of the opposition Democratic Party. He argued that the deployment of military forces was intended solely to maintain order—not to intimidate or arrest lawmakers. However, senior military and police officials sent to the assembly have testified under oath that Yoon ordered them to detain opposition politicians.
These claims have formed the crux of the impeachment argument, with prosecutors alleging a clear attempt to subvert democracy and intimidate the legislative branch.
A Nation Deeply Divided
Regardless of the outcome, analysts expect the ruling to widen political rifts in a country already grappling with extreme ideological polarization. Since Yoon’s impeachment in December, millions have taken to the streets—some defending him as a patriot wrongfully targeted, others denouncing him as a threat to South Korea’s hard-won democracy.
Public sentiment is deeply fractured. A recent national poll found South Koreans nearly split on the impeachment: 48% supported removal, 45% opposed, and the remainder were undecided.
The military and intelligence communities are also on alert. Defense officials have announced an increase in surveillance and national readiness amid the volatile political climate, citing fears of civil unrest or foreign opportunism during the political vacuum.
Political Fallout and Global Implications
If Yoon is removed, it will mark the second presidential impeachment in South Korean history, following the 2017 ousting of Park Geun-hye, who was convicted and imprisoned on corruption charges. A new presidential election would likely reignite fierce partisan battles, with the liberal Democratic Party expected to mount a strong campaign under Lee Jae-myung, while conservatives scramble to find a unifying candidate.
For now, acting President Han Duck-soo has called for calm.
“We must respect the rule of law and accept the court’s decision—whatever it may be,” Han said in a televised statement Thursday night. “This is a critical test of our democracy and national unity.”
South Korea’s global allies, including the United States and Japan, are watching closely. As tensions continue in East Asia, including growing friction with North Korea, regional leaders are hoping for stability in Seoul regardless of the court’s ruling.
But one thing is clear: the verdict will reshape South Korea’s political future—and the echoes of this day will be felt far beyond the courtroom steps.
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