Seoul, South Korea – The catchphrase “8-0” was blasted on loudspeakers and seen on placards in Seoul’s historic centre of Jongno District, where thousands of critics of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol gathered.The demonstrators on Thursday were calling for Yoon to be impeached, confident that all eight acting justices in the country’s Constitutional Court would decide to uphold an impeachment motion passed by the National Assembly in mid-December after Yoon’s short-lived martial law bid.
When the final verdict was announced on Friday, the court ruled unanimously to uphold Yoon’s impeachment and remove him from office for briefly declaring military rule. The decision has set in motion a presidential election, which must be held within 60 days.
Nestled between ancient palaces and state-of-the-art museums, the neighbourhood of Anguk, where the court is located – and which translates to “peaceful country” – was fortified by hundreds of police buses on Friday morning.
More than 14,000 police officers have been mobilised throughout the city while the Anguk subway station, local businesses and several schools were closed in case of disturbances following the court’s ruling.
Police buses are parked to make walls on the road as part of precautions for any eventuality near the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, on April 3, 2025 [Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo]
In front of Gyeongbokgung Palace on Thursday, a student organisation staged what sounded like a celebratory band performance in anticipation of a successful impeachment decision that many hoped would end a four-month-long standoff over Yoon’s future. Advertisement
“I completely trust that they will make the right decision,” said Song Hye-jung, who was watching the band from afar on Thursday.
“But with so many …
