Mass Protests Erupt in Seoul as Court Removes President Yoon from Office

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol gathered in the streets of Seoul ahead of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on his impeachment on Friday, April 4, 2025.

According to Firstpost, the crowd was seen chanting "cancel the impeachment" during a rally outside the presidential palace.

Demonstrators waved both South Korean and U.S. flags, symbolizing their pro-Yoon stance. Some also wore "Stop the Steal" pins, a slogan originally used by Donald Trump supporters and later adopted by pro-Yoon conservatives.

On Friday, the Constitutional Court unanimously upheld Yoon's impeachment, officially removing him from office.

This means that the leader of South Korea will soon be removed from the presidency. The South Korean government will now have to hold a snap election to replace him.

Considering this, the South Korean authorities have tightened security near the presidential palace and the Constitutional Court.

According to the New York Times, at least 14,000 police officers have been deployed to the area surrounding the court, shutting down subway stations and locking down the area near the popular former royal palace, which is a tourist attraction and home to major businesses.

The use of drones in the area has been banned, and schools, vendors, and businesses have been ordered to close. Meanwhile, Yoon will not attend the reading of the decision, which will determine whether he will be officially removed from his position or reinstated.

How Did South Korea Get Here?

On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a military emergency, shocking citizens, political opponents, and even members of his own party.

He justified the move by claiming it was necessary to protect the country from "North Korea sympathizers," specifically targeting opposition party leaders.

However, many viewed it as a political maneuver to suppress his rivals, as an increasingly strong opposition in parliament was obstructing his agenda. In response, the national legislature swiftly voted to end the military emergency, impeach Yoon, and charge him with rebellion.

The opposition then leveraged its parliamentary majority to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo. In January, Yoon was arrested by South Korean police but was released in March after his detention was overturned on technical grounds.

Since then, South Korea has been engulfed in political turmoil, with people becoming increasingly divided on this issue. Many are now hoping that the judgment will bring closure to the ongoing crisis.

The Constitutional Court's decision is final and cannot be appealed. Ahead of the verdict, interim leader Han Duck-soo urged citizens to "respect the decision calmly."

The government will not tolerate any illegal or violent acts. No matter what decision is made, we must accept the results calmly based on the rule of law," he said on Wednesday, urging politicians not to incite violence.

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