Yoon Suk Yeol impeachment verdict live: South Korea on edge as court to rule on president’s fate | South Korea
Key events
In today’s lead-up to the constitutional court ruling – scheduled to begin in under half an hour – large crowds of Yoon Suk Yeol’s supporters and detractors have gathered in Seoul.
Live footage showed many of his backers near the presidential residence waving South Korean or US flags as roused voices addressed them over loudspeakers in what resembled a festival atmosphere amid music, horns, clattering objects and group singing.
Demonstrators against Yoon near the constitutional court also held flags and waved placards as music played and some sang along, in between amplified voices rallying the crowd.
Opening
Welcome to our live coverage of the South Korean constitutional court’s ruling on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol after months of political turmoil.
The court in Seoul will decide whether to remove or reinstate Yoon after he imposed martial law in December and triggered South Korea’s worst political crisis in decades.
His fate has been hanging in the balance after the court defied expectations of a swift ruling on whether violated his constitutional duty, instead deliberating for more than five weeks in tight secrecy as public unrest swelled. The court is scheduled to deliver its ruling at 11am local time (0200 GMT) on Friday in a nationally televised session, Reuters reports.
Police are bracing for potential violence and planned to mobilise more than 14,000 officers in the capital.
Supporters of Yoon Suk Yeol (pictured left) gather outside the presidential residence in Seoul on Friday ahead of the court’s verdict on his impeachment. Photograph: Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images
Yoon, 64, is not expected to attend, but if stripped of the presidency would become the second South Korean leader to be impeached by the court after Park Geun-hye in 2017.
Yoon was suspended by legislators over his short-lived martial law declaration on 3 December, which led to armed soldiers being deployed to parliament. He was also arrested over a separate criminal trial on insurrection charges.
In other developments:
A 100-metre radius has been imposed outside the constitutional court building to prevent demonstrations, report Raphael Rashid and Justin McCurry, and the security clampdown extends well beyond the barricades. A no-fly zone has been imposed over the court, with police deploying signal jammers against unauthorised drones. Petrol stations near the court were to be closed to prevent arson attacks, and rooftop access to high-rise buildings restricted.
Embassies including the US, French, Russian and Chinese have warned citizens to avoid mass gatherings in connection with today’s verdict.
Yoon Suk Yeol supporters near his residence in Seoul as they wait for the court ruling. Photograph: Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters
At least six of the constitutional court’s eight justices must vote to remove Yoon – approving the impeachment motion passed by MPs in mid-December – otherwise he will be reinstated. Removal would trigger a presidential election that must be held within 60 days. Reinstatement would mean Yoon’s presidential powers will be immediately restored.
Yoon has defended his 3 December attempt to subvert civilian rule as necessary to root out “anti-state forces”. He still commands the backing of extreme supporters, who have staged protests for weeks in the run-up to today’s verdict. At least two staunch Yoon supporters have died after self-immolating in protest against his impeachment.
A Gallup Korea poll released last week showed 60% of respondents saying Yoon should be ousted.
