South Korea’s top court will decide on Friday whether to remove or reinstate President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose brief martial law order sparked the country’s biggest political crisis in years.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling, expected at 11 a.m. local time, follows over five weeks of private deliberation. If six of the eight judges agree, Yoon will be permanently removed — triggering an election within 60 days. If reinstated, he faces a rocky path forward under global economic pressure and deep domestic division.

Yoon declared martial law on December 3, citing threats from “anti-state” forces. He lifted it just six hours later, but the political damage was swift. Parliament impeached him, and public opinion turned sharply — with a recent Gallup poll showing 60% in favour of his removal.

Yoon also faces a separate criminal trial on insurrection charges. Though released in March, he remains under intense scrutiny.

Police are deploying 14,000 officers in Seoul as rival protesters prepare to hit the streets. Analysts say Friday’s ruling, no matter the outcome, is unlikely to heal a nation now deeply split.

Copied