Thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Seoul this weekend after South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously ruled to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol from office. The court’s verdict, delivered on Friday, concluded that Yoon’s December 3 attempt to impose martial law represented a grave breach of democratic norms and constitutional order. The ruling ends months of escalating political unrest and paves the way for a snap presidential election to be held by June.

The impeachment has sharply divided public opinion. While many citizens celebrated with tears and embraces outside the court, President Yoon’s supporters rallied in the rain, waving flags and chanting “Impeachment is invalid!” and “Nullify the snap election!” Some, like 26-year-old protester Yang Joo-young, expressed deep anxiety: “The Constitutional Court’s decision destroyed our country’s free democracy. Speaking as someone in my 20s or 30s, I’m deeply worried about the future.” In a televised statement, Yoon conceded, saying, “It has been a great honour to serve the Republic of Korea… I am deeply grateful to all who supported me, despite my many shortcomings.” Nevertheless, he maintained that his martial law decree was intended to “root out anti-state forces” and address supposed threats from North Korea.

The decision follows months of legal debate and street-level confrontation between rival protest groups. Yoon’s December declaration, delivered after a night of intense political wrangling, was viewed by many as an authoritarian overreach. Rights groups and constitutional scholars condemned the move as a dangerous undermining of civilian rule. Experts also noted the growing influence of far-right networks, religious leaders, and YouTube personalities that amplified Yoon’s message through misinformation and nationalist rhetoric. “The use of emergency powers in peacetime, without legislative backing, violates the basic rights guaranteed by our constitution,” said Professor Choi Jin-woo, a constitutional law scholar at Seoul National University.

Until a new leader is elected, Acting President Han Duck-soo will remain in office. All eyes now turn to the June election, where opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is widely seen as the frontrunner. His Democratic Party has vowed a more diplomatic and reconciliatory policy toward North Korea, in sharp contrast to Yoon’s hawkish stance. This prospect has alarmed some Yoon loyalists. “I honestly believe South Korea is finished,” said Park Jong-hwan, 59. “It feels like we’ve already transitioned into a socialist, communist state.”

As South Korea navigates this constitutional rupture, the broader implications of Yoon’s removal remain unclear. While some hail it as a democratic victory, others fear deeper ideological rifts ahead. For a nation long seen as a model of constitutional stability in Asia, the coming weeks will test the resilience of its institutions—and the will of its people.