30,000 Posts Flood in Two Days... Constitutional Court Bulletin Board Turns into a Chaotic Battlefield Over Impeachment Debate

Some Voices Criticize, "Do Not Pressure Judges with Public Opinion"

On the 16th, ahead of the full-scale impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol, the Constitutional Court is proceeding with related procedures for a swift trial. Lee Miseon, a Constitutional Court Justice, is entering the court building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

After the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, some citizens were observed attempting to pressure the Constitutional Court through public opinion. They began flooding the Constitutional Court's official website bulletin board with posts urging for or opposing the impeachment trial.

As of 9:30 a.m. on the 16th, the Constitutional Court's free bulletin board was overwhelmed with posts from citizens both supporting and opposing President Yoon's impeachment trial. The "board flooding" surged explosively after the impeachment motion was passed in the National Assembly on the 14th.

Until the 14th, the cumulative number of posts on the Constitutional Court's free bulletin board was only 675. However, by that morning, the serial number had already exceeded 35,000. In other words, more than 30,000 posts were uploaded in just two days.

The Constitutional Court bulletin board filled with posts both supporting and opposing impeachment. Screenshot of the Constitutional Court homepage.

Initially, opinions in favor of impeachment overwhelmingly dominated, but later, conservative voters opposing the impeachment joined in, intensifying the confusion. Currently, the bulletin board is in chaos with mixed public opinions such as "I support impeachment," "I oppose it," "Protect the constitutional order," "Arrest the traitor," and "We must expel anti-state forces."

Some civic groups plan to raise their voices not only online but also offline. The progressive group "Chotbul Haengdong" (Candlelight Action) has decided to hold candlelight vigils every afternoon in front of the Constitutional Court until the impeachment trial concludes. In response, conservative groups are reportedly considering holding rallies in front of the Constitutional Court as well.

Amid growing concerns over clashes between the two sides, the Constitutional Court announced on its website that it would "temporarily suspend library access." Since the 14th, security around the Constitutional Court has been significantly strengthened, with police deploying additional riot squads around the building.

The Constitutional Court has temporarily suspended library operations due to concerns that the gathering of both progressive and conservative citizens may exacerbate confusion. Screenshot from the Constitutional Court website

As conflicts among citizens over President Yoon's impeachment intensify, many express concern over the current situation, which appears to be public opinion "pressuring" the judiciary. On social media and other online platforms, critical comments are pouring in, such as "Are you trying to influence the judiciary's ruling with political logic now?", "Let the justices fulfill their duties without interference," and "The principle of separation of powers requires strict distinction among the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. Didn't everyone learn this in school?"

Amid the growing confusion, the Constitutional Court plans to begin its first justices' meeting on President Yoon's impeachment trial case starting this morning. The Court must decide whether to accept the impeachment within 180 days.

A decision to impeach requires the approval of six or more justices. Currently, the Constitutional Court operates with six justices due to three vacancies, and some voices argue that given the gravity of a presidential impeachment case, the Court should have at least seven justices.

In this regard, the National Assembly has already recommended three candidates for justices (two from the Democratic Party and one from the People Power Party). If Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, acting on behalf of the suspended President Yoon following the passage of the impeachment motion, appoints them, the Constitutional Court could be fully staffed within this year.