South Korea is on edge as the country awaits the outcome of an impeachment trial for suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol, expected as soon as next week, according to local media.
Advertisement
Eight judges at the Constitutional Court have been holding deliberations this week since Wednesday, according to daily The Hankyoreh.
In two earlier impeachment trials of South Korea’s presidents – Roh Moo-hyun in 2004 and Park Geun-hye in 2017 – the ruling date was confirmed two to three days in advance. But no such announcements have been made yet for Yoon’s case.
Local reports have pegged March 14 as the date to look out for, seeing as the two previous court impeachments came on a Friday and about two weeks after the wrap-up of court proceedings.
While Roh and Park’s rulings were televised, the court had not yet decided on whether to live broadcast the latest result, The Korea Herald reported.
Advertisement
Yoon was suspended over his failed martial law bid in December which threw the nation into political chaos. He also faces charges of insurrection and is accused of ordering martial law troops to raid the National Assembly building.
South Korean police were reportedly going all out to prevent any chaos brought on by the court verdict. All officers, including special forces, have been mobilised in preparation for potential rallies and accidents on the day, according to Yonhap News agency.