South Korea: groups speak up against and in favor of a removed president

Citizens of South Korea met in large numbers in the capital Seoul on Saturday (15) to support or oppose the outgoing president Yoon Suk Yeol, who suffered impeachment, before a court decides if his brief statement of martial law disqualifies him from office.

The Constitutional Court should decide in the coming days if Yoon should be dismissed in a case that triggered South Korea’s worst political crisis in decades and shook the markets.

In downtown Seoul, Anti-Yoon protesters filled a large square, shouting for their immediate removal, and were accompanied by opposition politicians.

A few blocks away, conservative Yoon supporters crowded an entire avenue, asking for their return and shaking South Korean and American flags.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Party, commented that one million people attended the Anti-Yoon protest, while police estimated the number in each demonstration in 43,000, the Yonhap news agency said.

Yoon is also being tried for an insurrection criminal accusation, although it was released from detention last week.

The imposition of martial law and its consequences expanded profound social cracks between conservative and liberals and pressured institutions and military, who were in a dilemma over martial law.

Protesters Pro and Anti-Yoon have been going to the streets to the hundreds of thousands, week after week, since the crisis.

“Last week, I thought the Constitutional Court would decide, but did not decide. So Yoon was loose, which made me incredibly frustrated, ”said Song Young-Sun, a 48-year-old protester. “So, this week, I came here, hoping that the Constitutional Court will decide on the impeachment case next week.”

In a Gallup Korea survey published on Friday, 58% supported Yoon’s impeachment, while 37% opposed.

“I hope the judges of the Constitutional Court will make a precise judgment and reject the case,” said Kim Hyung-Jon, a 70-year-old pro-Yoon protester.

This content was originally published in South Korea: groups speak up against and in favor of president away from CNN Brazil.

Source: CNN Brasil

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