Pro and anti protesters for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol gather in Seoul

(2 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seoul, South Korea - 2 January 2025
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Various of pro-Yoon (South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol) rally
2. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Choi Sung-won, 76, pro-Yoon protester:
"Every law enforcement in this country has been unlawful. South Korean people don't know who made this legal system and how it is being enforced. The country is in a state of civil war and anarchy. President Yoon needs to return so he can normalize the country."
3. Various of anti-Yoon rally
4. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Kang Sae-bom, 27, anti-Yoon protester:
"Suspension of his presidential powers isn't enough and he needs to be criminally punished so he won't be allowed to do anything. The Constitutional Court needs to impeach him as soon as possible so we can move towards a new society."
5. Various of anti-Yoon rally

STORYLINE:
Braving freezing temperatures, thousands of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s supporters rallied on Thursday amid a heavy police presence.

Pro-Yoon protester Choi Sung-won said the country is in a state of civil war and anarchy. "President Yoon needs to return so he can normalize the country."

Anti-Yoon protesters held a rally in a nearby area, demanding Yoon's immediate arrest and impeachment.

Anti-Yoon protester Kang Sae-bom said the suspension of presidential powers is not enough and that Yoon needs to be criminally punished.

Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended following a National Assembly vote to impeach him on Dec. 14 over his imposition of martial law, which lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets.

Yoon’s fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.

To formally end Yoon’s presidency, at least six justices on the nine-member Constitutional Court must vote in favor.

The National Assembly voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who became acting president after Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Yoon’s case.

Facing growing pressure, the new acting president, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, appointed two new justices on Tuesday, which possibly increased the chances of the court upholding Yoon’s impeachment.

AP Video by Seong-bin Kang

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