Following the Constitutional Court’s decision to uphold the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, public reaction in South Korea was largely split into two major camps.
Reactions from Supporters of the Impeachment
Those who supported the impeachment celebrated the court’s ruling with music and dance at public gatherings. They chanted slogans like “Let’s defeat the insurrectionists,” emphasizing what they saw as a victory for democracy.
Footage of public reaction during the impeachment ruling can be seen at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avTSeNcc_RE&t=97s
Many citizens and civil groups viewed Yoon’s removal from office as a result of “people power,” crediting the public for preventing the imposition of emergency martial law. They regarded it as another example of South Korean democracy demonstrating its resilience.
Some even described this impeachment as a crucial declaration that breaks the vicious cycle of past state violence, arguing that South Korea had once again become a model for democracy worldwide.
Reactions from Opponents of the Impeachment
Lawmakers from the conservative People Power Party were largely silent or visibly discouraged after the ruling, expressing strong opposition to the decision.
Among some conservative circles, there were suspicions of political bias in the court’s ruling, and a few voiced support for Yoon’s return to power. However, these views represented only a minority in the broader public discourse.
Public Opinion Polls
According to polling data, 57% of the public supported the impeachment, while 35% opposed it. However, opinions were sharply divided along political lines:
Among progressive respondents, 89% supported the impeachment.
Among conservatives, 67% opposed it.
A Curious Phenomenon
One notable aspect is that self-proclaimed conservative protesters in South Korea often wave not only the national flag (Taegukgi) but also the American and Israeli flags. While their exact reasoning is unclear, some interpret this as an attempt to emphasize the U.S.–South Korea alliance.
However, even Donald Trump stated that he “has no authority to overturn Korean democracy.” Meanwhile, both the U.S. Department of State and the White House praised the resilience of South Korean democracy in the face of Yoon’s impeachment, and reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.–South Korea alliance without interfering in domestic affairs.
