Yoon’s Impeachment Sparks Protests and Divides South Korea

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment has shaken the nation and sparked intense protests, BBC reported. On Friday, the Constitutional Court confirmed his removal from office, leading to emotional scenes outside his residence.

Thousands of Yoon’s supporters gathered to protest the decision, many of them devastated. “I came with hope… It’s so unfair,” said a tearful 64-year-old Won Bog-sil at the rally. The protest, like many others, was live streamed on YouTube too. 

Yoon was widely criticized after he declared martial law in December, a move that cost him public trust. But his supporters believe he was acting to protect the country from pro-North Korea lawmakers and an overpowering opposition. Many of them follow right-wing YouTubers who spread these ideas, fuelling a growing movement of extreme nationalism.

These online communities often claim election fraud, blame China and North Korea, and say Yoon was unfairly targeted. These theories have led to real-life violence. In January, angry protestors stormed a courthouse, and one man even died after setting himself on fire in protest.

Yoon’s connection to right-wing YouTubers runs deep — he invited some to his 2022 inauguration and encouraged his allies to watch their videos instead of “biased” news. Now, channels with hundreds of thousands of followers regularly rally support for him and attack his political rivals.

Even some within Yoon’s conservative party are alarmed. “Why are people worshipping him like a king?” said lawmaker Cho Kyoung-tae, who supported the impeachment. Others who opposed Yoon have faced pressure to leave the party.

Despite the controversy, Yoon’s popularity among his base remains strong. After his martial law move, his party’s approval ratings even increased. He told supporters in a letter, “It was only after being impeached that I felt like a president.”

Experts warn that Yoon’s fall from power has created deep divisions in South Korea. The political landscape is now more polarized than ever, with both right-wing and left-wing groups using social media to push their agendas. As one analyst put it, “Yoon’s actions have accelerated a decade’s worth of division in just a few months.”