Political Turmoil Exposes Divided Public Sentiment in South Korea

Seoul, Jan 9 (NationPress) In spite of the ongoing cold snap and subzero temperatures, large-scale protests have erupted overnight near the residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul. These demonstrations have been ongoing since late Tuesday, when the Seoul Western District Court prolonged an arrest warrant against Yoon.

Law enforcement estimated that more than 600 conservative demonstrators opposing Yoon's impeachment took part in the rally, brandishing red batons, waving the Taegeukgi and the Stars and Stripes, and chanting slogans like "Oppose impeachment," and "Defend the Republic of Korea."

Meanwhile, citizens demanding the immediate arrest of the impeached president gathered nearby, shouting slogans such as "Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol" and urging the High-ranking Officials Criminal Investigation Office to act promptly on the arrest warrant.

To avert potential clashes, police utilized buses to separate the two groups.

Yoon declared martial law on the evening of December 3 last year, but it was overturned by the National Assembly within hours. The opposition filed an impeachment motion against him, which was passed by the National Assembly on December 14.

The impeachment was forwarded to the constitutional court for deliberation, which could last up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential powers were suspended. Investigators attempted to arrest the impeached president on January 3, identifying him as a suspected ringleader of an insurrection charge at the presidential residence, but were thwarted by the presidential security service.

On Wednesday, acting President Choi Sang-mok called upon relevant authorities to ensure the safety of citizens and prevent any physical confrontations between governmental agencies while executing Yoon's arrest warrant.

Public sentiment regarding the impeachment remains deeply divided. Some South Korean media outlets reported an increase in Yoon's approval rating following the impeachment, indicating stronger support from the conservative faction. However, a poll released on Monday by Realmeter indicated that nearly 60 percent of respondents believe the opposition should gain power in the upcoming presidential election.

Support for the Democratic Party reached 45.2 percent, surpassing the ruling People Power Party's 34.4 percent.

Kim Hyeon-su, a resident of Seoul, expressed to Xinhua news agency that there is a prevailing belief that Yoon's martial law order is questionable. Moreover, the political process to address the aftermath has been complicated and frustrating.

"South Korea's National Assembly is currently in a 'small ruling party, large opposition' scenario, where the ruling party has lost control over national matters. As they should be managing the fallout, the ruling party finds itself unable to do so, leading to public dissatisfaction with how the powerful opposition is navigating the issue," Kim stated.

"Honestly, I am unhappy with the government's management of this political crisis. The situation is disordered, and the government appears to lack effective responses. Following the impeachment of Yoon, discussions of impeaching the acting president have emerged, further complicating the matter," said Hong Seong-bin from Gyeonggi Province.

"I hope we can quickly elect a legitimate president rather than continue depending on an 'acting' leader to oversee national matters. What we require is a leader who can stabilize the situation and concentrate on national development, instead of endless accusations and discord," Hong added.

On Tuesday, the South Korean constitutional court, currently evaluating Yoon's impeachment, stated in a press conference that it would "act in good conscience" and "make an independent judgment."

The court reaffirmed its dedication to conducting fair trials. "As an independent tribunal, the constitutional court will never be swayed by external public opinion campaigns and is committed to fair trials," a court spokesperson emphasized.

According to the daily Hankyoreh, public backing for Yoon's impeachment is "overwhelming." A series of New Year opinion polls released on January 1 revealed that approximately 70 percent of respondents supported the impeachment.

Kwon Ki-sik, a former presidential secretary for state affairs monitoring, indicated that the constitutional court's main focus in reviewing Yoon's impeachment should be legal scrutiny, pointing out that there is little room for debate regarding the constitutional violations related to Yoon's emergency martial law.

Public sentiment, as reflected in various polls, is also a key factor, he noted, suggesting that while the trial must prioritize legal principles, the court cannot ignore the political ramifications and popular feelings surrounding the case.