One Day Before Yoon Impeachment Verdict, Tomorrow Is the Day of Destiny

Ruling to Decide President Yoon's Fate
The Future of Korea Also at Stake
Decision to Be Announced by Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae
"All Must Accept the Ruling," Urge Korea Constitutional Association and Other Social Groups

The Constitutional Court will deliver its ruling on President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial at 11 a.m. tomorrow (the 4th) in the Grand Bench courtroom. Since this trial determines whether he will be removed from office, it is a case that holds President Yoon's fate. Furthermore, the future of the Republic of Korea is also at stake. If the Constitutional Court issues a removal ruling, President Yoon will immediately become a former president, and a presidential election will be held within 60 days. Conversely, if the impeachment is dismissed, President Yoon will immediately return to his duties.

On the 3rd, one day before the impeachment trial verdict of President Yoon Seok-yeol, roads near the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, are being controlled. Photo taken using the panorama function on a mobile phone. 2025. 04. 03 Photo by Yoon Dong-ju

The tension inside and outside the Constitutional Court on the 3rd was extremely high. The police increased security levels, and the Court also took its own safety and security enhancement measures. The Court controlled access to the main building where the justices' offices and deliberation room are located, and covered the windows of the justices' offices with curtains all day to prevent any view of the interior. To prevent leaks of the verdict before the announcement, justices and staff were advised to use boxed lunches and the exclusive cafeteria within the Court. The police additionally deployed 2 to 3 security team members per justice to protect the justices' personal safety.

The Constitutional Court justices held a deliberation on the 3rd, one day before the ruling. The impeachment decision document will be finalized after coordinating detailed opinions and obtaining signatures from each justice. The reading of the impeachment decision for President Yoon Seok-yeol will be conducted by Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae. If there are dissenting opinions, the justices who hold them will express their views. The reading of the decision is expected to proceed by explaining the impeachment trial procedures conducted so far and adding the court's remarks. In the substantive judgment, the Court will examine whether there were any procedural flaws in the passage of the impeachment motion and assess the unconstitutionality, illegality, and seriousness of President Yoon's actions as stated by the National Assembly in the grounds for impeachment.

Voices from various sectors of society are calling for acceptance of the Constitutional Court's decision and efforts toward social integration after the ruling. The ‘Korea Constitutional Association,’ a group of former lawmakers, issued a statement on the 2nd urging, "Regardless of the decision the Constitutional Court makes in President Yoon's impeachment trial, the ruling and opposition parties must unconditionally accept it." On the same day, Han Duck-soo, Acting President and Prime Minister, also said, "Whatever decision is made, it must be calmly accepted according to the principles of the rule of law."

However, voices in the political sphere remain divided. On the 2nd, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, responded to the People Power Party's demand to accept the impeachment ruling by saying, "Acceptance is something Yoon Seok-yeol (the President) must do." Some within the party even voiced ‘non-acceptance.’ The People Power Party counterattacked by labeling the Democratic Party's offensive as ‘acts of rebellion.’ So-called pro-Yoon lawmakers are leading a 24-hour relay protest against impeachment until the day of the ruling. An official ‘acceptance message’ from President Yoon has yet to be issued.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.