South Korea erupts: Protests surge after president's impeachment
Thousands of Seoul residents took to the streets to protest against the Constitutional Court's decision to uphold the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
On Saturday, mass protests occurred in Seoul following the Constitutional Court's decision to uphold the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Demonstrators, undeterred by the rain, blocked the city's main streets, chanting slogans against the court's decision and demanding the cancellation of early elections.
Crowds in the streets of Seoul: Mass protests after president's impeachment
The Constitutional Court of South Korea unanimously ruled that President Yoon's actions were unconstitutional. Last December, Yoon declared a state of emergency and sent the military to parliament, which provoked a strong response from the National Assembly. Parliament passed an impeachment motion, which has now been confirmed by the court.
Protesters, dressed in colorful raincoats, expressed their dissatisfaction by holding South Korean and American flags. One protester told AFP that the court's ruling had undermined democracy in the country. The protests were a response to charges against Yoon for constitutional violations and orchestrating a coup.
The political future of South Korea
After Yoon's removal from power, early presidential elections are to be held within 60 days. Yoon, who claimed he acted to defend the country against "North Korean communist forces," did not provide evidence for his allegations of election fraud. The criminal trial against him will begin on April 13th.
