Thousands rally for impeached Yoon

SEOUL (AFP) -- Thousands protested in the South Korean capital Saturday in support of disgraced ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office a day earlier over his bungled martial law declaration.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously ruled on Friday to remove Yoon over the 3 December attempt to subvert civilian rule, triggering fresh elections to be held by June after months of political turmoil.

His supporters took to the streets in the capital and braved the rain on Saturday, chanting “impeachment is invalid!” and “nullify the snap election!”

“The Constitutional Court’s decision destroyed our country’s free democracy,” said protester Yang Joo-young, 26.

“Speaking as someone in my 20s or 30s, I’m deeply worried about the future.”

Yoon had defended his martial law attempt as necessary to root out “anti-state forces” and what he claimed were threats from North Korea.

But there were many scenes of jubilation in Seoul on Friday from those opposed to Yoon’s rule, with people hugging and crying after the ruling was delivered.

Yet Yoon had found backing from extreme religious figures and right-wing YouTubers who experts say used misinformation to court support for the former star prosecutor.