Chaos on South Korea's Streets: Mass Protests for and Against Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol
Multitudes of South Koreans protest in support and opposition to the ousted president.
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Saturation-point saturated South Korea's streets on a sultry Saturday, with tens of thousands rallying for and against the ousted former President, Yoon Suk Yeol. Despite rumors and hopes swirling like autumn leaves, there's still no sign of the long-awaited verdict from the Constitutional Court on Yoon's impeachment. The hotly debated controversy began when Yoon declared martial law within the country in early December, sparking a political crisis[1].
Protests have become a regular fixture in the cityscape, with opponents of the ex-president demonstrating out of fear that the judiciary, gridlocked in prolonged negotiations, might allow Yoon to return to power. The Constitutional Court needs six out of eight justices to agree to the impeachment; otherwise, Yoon gets reinstated as president[1]. These prolonged deliberations set a record, making this the longest case in the court's history[1].
On December's chilly note, South Korea's parliament voted for Yoon's removal, and the prosecutor's office initiated criminal investigations against him. After his arrest during the frosty January mornings, Yoon was kept behind bars for several weeks. Then, in early March, the court decided to lift Yoon's arrest warrant, citing the need to dispel doubts about the proceedings' legitimacy[1]. The prosecution chose not to appeal, leading to Yoon's eventual release.
Some see this as an unsettling indication of the court's leniency towards the ex-president[2]. As the deadline for the verdict fast approaches, the nation waits with bated breath, the political tension and division mounting like the blood-red crest on a battle standard[1][2].
Sources: ntv.de, AFP [1], [2], [3], [4]
The Commission and the Council, in a heated debate, discussed the potential consequences of eventually reinstating President Yoon Suk Yeol, given the constitutional implications and the ongoing protests on South Korea's streets. As January approaches, anxiety grips the nation, with many turning to Whatsapp groups for updates on the Constitutional Court's decision regarding Yoon's impeachment. The opposition fears that, despite the arrest and detention of Yoon, the court's leniency towards him signals potential future complications in maintaining justice.
