Huge crowds march in rival rallies for and against South Korea’s impeached president

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Thousands of South Koreans on Saturday filled the streets of downtown Seoul in massive rival rallies for and against impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, as the Constitutional Court nears a decision on whether to formally remove him from office over his imposition of martial law in December.

Waving banners and signs demanding the ouster of the conservative president, big crowds of anti-Yoon protesters packed the streets near the court, where police had recently tightened security in anticipation of the ruling expected as early as next week.

Yoon’s supporters rallied in nearby streets, waving South Korean and U.S. flags while calling for the return of their conservative hero, whose ill-conceived power grab evoked memories of the military dictatorships last seen in the 1980s. Police deployed thousands of officers to maintain safety and there were no immediate reports of major clashes or injuries.

Organizers of the anti-Yoon protests estimated turnout at 1.1 million, while police put the size in the tens of thousands. Marching toward streets near the court, the protesters sang and chanted slogans demanding Yoon’s ouster and imprisonment over his short-lived martial law imposition on Dec. 3. Yoon’s powers were suspended after the opposition-controlled National Assembly impeached him on Dec. 14.

“We cannot wait even a single day,” one of the protest leaders said on stage. “This is the order of our citizens — the Constitutional Court must immediately remove Yoon Suk Yeol, the ringleader of rebellion!”

To formally remove Yoon from office, at least six of the Constitutional Court’s eight incumbent justices must approve the impeachment motion passed by lawmakers. If they do not, Yoon’s presidential powers will be immediately restored. Chung Sung-il, a 72-year-old anti-Yoon protester, said he expected the court to dismiss Yoon, “100 percent.”

“If he is reinstated, so many dangerous things can happen.”

The pro-Yoon rallies were attended by members of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party, including five-term lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun. He has defended the president’s martial law imposition as an attempt to check against the “legislative dictatorship” of the liberals, who have obstructed his agenda with their majority in the Assembly. The crowds repeatedly chanted Yoon Suk Yeol’s name and held signs that read “Dissolve the National Assembly.”

“President Yoon declared martial law to protect free democratic South Korea,” said Jin Woo-chan, a 20-year-old Yoon supporter.

Yoon has argued that his martial law decree was necessary to overcome the “anti-state” liberal opposition, which he claims improperly used its legislative majority to block his agenda.

Despite blockades by hundreds of heavily armed troops, lawmakers gathered a quorum and unanimously voted to lift martial law, hours after Yoon declared it. The constitution limits the exercise of such powers to times of war or comparable national emergencies.

Yoon’s legal saga, which also includes a separate criminal indictment on rebellion charges, rattled state affairs, diplomacy and the economy and has become a stress test for the country’s democracy.

Yoon’s conservative supporters rioted at a Seoul court that authorized his arrest. His lawyers and ruling party have openly questioned the credibility of courts and law enforcement institutions, and Yoon has continued to express contempt for his liberal rivals, endorsing baseless conspiracy theories about election fraud to justify his ill-fated authoritarian push.

If the Constitutional Court dismisses Yoon, that will trigger a presidential by-election within two months.

Associated Press video journalists Yong-ho Kim and Yong Jun Chang contributed to this report.

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attend a rally to oppose his impeachment in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 15, 2025. The letters read "Yoon Suk Yeol's immediate return." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Protesters stage a rally calling for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Protesters march during a rally calling for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Protesters march during a rally calling for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A supporter of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a rally to oppose his impeachment in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Protesters stage a rally calling for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Protesters stage a rally calling for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Protesters stage a rally calling for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 15, 2025. The letters read "Yoon Suk Yeol's dismissal." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Protesters stage a rally calling for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose his impeachment in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 15, 2025. The letters read "Yoon Suk Yeol's immediate return and dissolution of the National Assembly." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

NEW YORK (AP) — Kristaps Porzingis kept working to return, only to get knocked back again by a mysterious illness that sapped his strength.

He finally felt well enough to play again Saturday night, and his big finish showed why the Boston Celtics believe they are so much more dangerous with their man in the middle.

Porzingis scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter after missing the previous eight games, helping the Celtics hold on for a 115-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

“Honestly as the game went on I felt better and better,” Porzingis said. “Kind of had a little crash in the third, but pushed through it and I had a great fourth, and it was a close one but I’m happy we got it done.”

The 7-foot-3 center hadn't played since Feb. 26 in a loss at Detroit. His illness began with what he said was an upper respiratory infection that turned into something worse, perhaps bronchitis. He said testing never determined exactly what it was, though he was negative for mononucleosis.

“It was extremely, extremely frustrating just not knowing what I had,” Porzingis said.

He tried to come back for a showdown at home against the Lakers on March 8, pushing himself through a hard workout the day before.

“But then the crash I had was, like, historic the next day,” he said. “I couldn’t even get out of bed to go to shootaround.”

He tried again that night but realized his energy was still so low that he wouldn't help the team. A week later, he said he still didn't feel perfect but good enough to give it a go. Coach Joe Mazzulla said after the game Porzingis had a restriction of about 32 minutes, longer than Porzingis expected to play.

“Today I thought I was going to play like 20 minutes, but Joe told me mid-fourth, he was like, ‘I’m not going to take you out,’” Porzingis said. “So just bite down and let’s go.”

He ended up at 32 after playing the entire period, and had a three-point play and his only 3-pointer on consecutive possessions midway through the quarter that made it 100-92 after the Nets had cut a 21-point deficit to two.

Porzingis came in averaging 18.9 points but has been limited to just 33 games and Saturday was only his fourth game since the All-Star break. Mazzulla said the Latvian has remained optimistic even throughout his absences.

“When he’s able to play, he always plays,” Mazzulla said, “and when he’s not, he does the necessary steps, whether it’s in the weight room, on the court or in the training room to try to put himself in position to play.”

Derrick White (bruised left knee) and Al Horford (sprained left big toe) sat out Saturday on the second night of back-to-back games after the defending NBA champions won in Miami on Friday and clinched a playoff spot. The Celtics then lost Jaylen Brown in the second half to lower back spasms.

But having Porzingis back was good enough to pull them through.

“He’s been really, really sick, dealing with an illness, so just for him to get back and get his rhythm back is good for us, especially at this stretch before the playoffs,” guard Payton Pritchard said. “Get his legs under him.”

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Boston Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis (8) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets' Keon Johnson (45) and Ziaire Williams (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe (20) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) dunks against during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Boston Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis (8) dunks ahead of Brooklyn Nets' Day'Ron Sharpe during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)