The South Korean Constitutional Court's decision to formally unseat President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday was met with joy among critics and sadness among supporters as the embattled president left behind a divided country.
Yoon was removed from office Friday as all eight of the Constitutional Court's current justices upheld a parliamentary motion to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law last December.
On the day of the ruling, over 100,000 supporters and opponents of Yoon gathered in the capital city Seoul. Some of them offered their viewpoints on the court's decision, the direction of South Korean politics, and the country's future.
Friday's verdict came as a relief to most, who cheered on the streets of Seoul rooting for the impeachment.
"To be honest, quite a bit of time had passed since the (martial law) situation ended. So I was quietly worried that things might not turn out well. But the way each of the president's wrongdoings was pointed out one by one - much more thoroughly than I expected - was so satisfying for the entire 20 minutes," said a Seoul resident.
"Watching Yoon Suk-yeol constantly making ridiculous excuses and covering everything up with lies made me so angry. I believe today's ruling is a proper and legitimate verdict," said another resident.
However, disbelief and anguish spilled out among the protesters that wanted Yoon reinstated.
"This is unfair. And it is wrong. Because in a free democratic country, it's unthinkable for all eight judges to unanimously vote for dismissal. This happened because forces behind the scenes exerted pressure or caused some kind of manipulation," said a local resident.
Now that the political chaos had a serious impact on the life of ordinary citizens, and businesses, Seoul residents anticipate changes for the good after the ruling.
"Since December, with the ongoing protests, it felt like Korea had come to a standstill. Now that the president has been removed, I hope we can elect a new leader, achieve economic growth, and see our society improve overall," said a local resident.
"I believe we are at a pivotal moment of social transformation, one that aligns perfectly with a time when we can take a major step forward in all areas, including the economy and business. It may be our greatest challenge, but also our greatest opportunity for shared happiness as a community," said another resident.
With emotions running high, the nation now prepares for a presidential election to select a new leader which must come within 60 days.
Seoul residents long for changes after impeached president leaves behind divided country
Seoul residents long for changes after impeached president leaves behind divided country
