Supporters and opponents of suspended South Korean President Yun Suk-Yeol protested on Saturday, two weeks after his impeachment. The move to impose military rule in early December has sparked widespread protests for and against the UN, plunging the country into its worst political crisis in decades.
Lawmakers impeached Han Deok-Soo, who replaced Yun as acting president, on Friday after he refused to complete the impeachment process and demand that he be brought to justice. The fate of Yun and Han will be decided by the Constitutional Court, but protesters from both sides have vowed to keep up the pressure in the meantime.
“About two million people will unite to defend President Yoon,” said Ri Kang-San, a Yoon supporter who was one of the organizers of the rally in Seoul. He said, “The rally has continued our efforts to further strengthen the people’s voice against impeachment.” Organizers of the anti-Yoon rally said the anger among supporters of his impeachment was “burning even hotter.”
Rally participants said they are now demanding Yoon’s immediate dismissal and punishment. The conflict between the opposition and Han escalated after he refused to appoint three additional judges to the Constitutional Court, which was vacant, and later when he announced that he would implement some kind of ‘martial law’ in response, the opposition became angry with the suspended president and his ministers.
Although the current six justices could decide whether to uphold the House’s decision to impeach Yun, a dissenting vote would reinstate him. The opposition wanted Han to approve three additional nominees to fill the nine-member bench, which he refused to do. This left the two sides at an impasse. The second impeachment has appointed Finance Minister Choi Sang-Mok as acting president and prime minister, leaving the country in limbo.
“We have had acting presidents before, but this is the first time we have discussed and voted on impeachment motions one after another, looking for alternatives,” said Lee Jun-han, a professor at Incheon National University. “At this time, it is most important to reduce government turmoil, and the government will devote all its efforts to overcoming this period of turmoil,” Choi said in a statement released after the impeachment.
Like Han, Choi will also face opposition pressure to accept the appointment of a new judge. If he refuses, he too could face impeachment.
