Most S Koreans relieved and ready to move on after impeachment verdict

SEOUL – Having held their breath for the past few weeks as the Constitutional Court deliberated over the fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol, many South Koreans let out a collective sigh of relief when the impeachment verdict was announced on April 4.

To many South Koreans, the man they had elected as president in 2022 had betrayed their trust with his sudden declaration of martial law on Dec 3, 2024, sending the country into a tailspin and opening up past wounds of the country’s years under harsh martial rule in the 1980s.

To Yoon’s supporters, however, he had his reasons, with his minority government “paralysed” by the opposition.

The eight judges of the Constitutional Court voted unanimously to remove Yoon from office, ruling that his self-declared coup was a violation of the country’s Constitution.

Most South Koreans whom The Straits Times spoke to said that they took comfort in the ruling and could not wait to move on.

Madam Kim Young-suk recalled that her heart was pounding as she watched the live broadcast of the verdict announcement.

When the court read out Yoon’s ouster, the 53-year-old office assistant squealed out loud: “The moment that South Korea is reborn!”

She told ST: “Yoon is a hypocritical figure who shouts about upholding liberal democracy when he is the one not abiding by democracy himself.

“I thought it was certain that he should be impeached, but because his lawyers kept finding loopholes and using legal tactics to delay court proceedings, I became anxious. But today is a joyful day!”

A medical industry professional who wanted to be known only as Mr Chae had been worried about the situation, but now sees it as a chance for South Korea to shake the dust off its feet and move on.

“Our country’s foundation as