Overview

• Thousands of South Koreans gathered in Seoul in rival rallies supporting or opposing impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol ahead of a key court ruling.
• The Constitutional Court is expected to decide next week whether Yoon's declaration of martial law in December 2024 warrants his removal from office.
• Anti-Yoon protesters demand his immediate ouster, citing his actions as authoritarian, while his supporters argue that the martial law was necessary to counter opposition obstruction.
• Yoon faces additional criminal charges of insurrection and was recently released from detention, further intensifying political divisions in the country.
• If the court upholds the impeachment, a presidential by-election will be held within two months, marking a pivotal moment for South Korea's democracy.