WNAM MONITORING: Supporters of South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol gathered on Saturday to protest the Constitutional Court’s ruling that removed him from office, urging his immediate return, Yonhap news reported.
Thousands staged rallies in central Seoul’s Gwanghwamun area despite the rain, a day after the top court stripped Yoon of power, ruling that he violated the Constitution by declaring martial law in December.
Protesters chanted slogans such as “The impeachment is a fraud and invalid” and “Dissolve the Constitutional Court,” and criticized the justices in the impeachment trial.
The eight justices found that Yoon’s declaration of martial law “did not meet the legal requirement for a national crisis.”
Yoon was impeached by parliament on Dec. 14 after he declared martial law on the night of Dec. 3, triggering a political crisis in the country.
The president deployed troops to parliament to stop lawmakers from holding a special session to overturn his decision.
But the lawmakers managed to enter the parliament building, where they passed a motion and forced Yoon to rescind his order in the early hours of Dec. 4.
Later, several members of Yoon’s People Power Party joined the opposition ranks to impeach the president, who was elected in 2022.
In January, he was arrested and indicted for abuse of power and leading an insurrection, making him the first sitting president to be kept in custody. He was also subject to a travel ban. However, the court released him from prison last month.
The verdict took effect immediately, requiring the country to hold a snap presidential election to pick Yoon’s successor within 60 days.
Yoon is expected vacate the presidential residence after the weekend.
