Protests escalate in South Korea ahead of court ruling

SEOUL: Protests are getting bigger in South Korea as people show their support or opposition to impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. This comes as the Constitutional Court is set to decide on Yoon's future. He was impeached by lawmakers after declaring martial law on December 3. The court held hearings for weeks last month to discuss whether to remove Yoon from office. This case has taken longer than any other in the court's history. Some experts expected a ruling by mid-March, but the decision is still pending. This delay has led to various conspiracy theories and speculation about disagreements among the justices. On the streets of central Seoul, many protesters gathered. Some were against Yoon, carrying signs and South Korean flags. Kim Min-ji, a 25-year-old protester, expressed her frustration. She believes the court's delay is only helping those who support Yoon's actions. On the other side, supporters including right-wing YouTubers and religious leaders argue that Yoon should be reinstated. Park Jong-hwan, a 59-year-old supporter, claimed that Yoon was only exercising his presidential rights and that he should not be seen as guilty of insurrection. In addition to the impeachment, Yoon is facing a criminal trial for his declaration of martial law. He is the first sitting president in South Korea to face such charges. Earlier this year, he was detained but released in early March on legal grounds. The Constitutional Court requires at least six out of eight justices to vote for Yoon's removal for him to be dismissed. If that does not happen, he will regain his position. As tensions rise, police are preparing for possible violence on the day of the verdict and may deploy special units to handle any threats.