SEOUL, March 15 – In a dramatic display of political engagement, South Koreans gathered in vast numbers this weekend in the capital, Seoul, to voice their support or opposition to impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. This mobilization precedes a courtroom decision expected soon from the Constitutional Court regarding whether Yoon's controversial declaration of martial law disqualifies him from holding office, a situation that has incited Channel News Asia to label the current climate as one of the nation's gravest political crises in decades and a major influence on market stability.

In central Seoul, anti-Yoon protestors filled a large public square, chanting slogans demanding his immediate ouster, while supportive voices gathered nearby on a separate avenue waving both South Korean and American flags. The opposition Democratic Party claimed that approximately a million participated in the anti-Yoon rally, contrasting with police estimates which put attendance at around 43,000 for each group, as reported by Reuters.

Amidst the political storm, Yoon faces charges of insurrection concerning the martial law decree and has only recently been released from detention. The fallout from his attempts to enforce martial law has exacerbated deep societal divides, igniting tensions between conservative and liberal factions in South Korea. Indeed, the upcoming court ruling is poised to further impact these dynamics, as large-scale protests continue to manifest with alarming regularity.

According to a recent Gallup Korea poll, 58 percent of the populace now backs Yoon's impeachment, while only 37 percent stand in opposition. Protestor Song Young-sun expressed frustration over Yoon’s recent release, voicing hope that the Constitutional Court might soon resolve the impeachment issue. Meanwhile, some of Yoon's supporters have called for legal clarity, emphasizing their wish for a ruling that would allow his return to power.