Constitutional Court Sets Date for President Yoon's Impeachment Ruling... Gwangju and Jeonnam Political Circles Welcome Decision

Kim Young-rok Urges "8-0 Ruling Reflecting the People's Wish"
Kang Gi-jung: "What the People Want to Hear Is Dismissal"
Cho Ok-hyun: "Constitutional Court's Political Judgment Heightens Anxiety"
Jeon Kyung-sun Points Out "Verdict Date Confirmed Too Late"
Jung Da-eun: "Justices Must Decide with a Sense of Duty"
Jung Jun-ho: "We Must Accept the Constitutional Court's Decision"

Partial capture of Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province's SNS post.

With the Constitutional Court confirming the date for the verdict on President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment case, local political circles have unanimously welcomed the decision. There is a shared expectation that the Constitutional Court will make the right decision.

On the 1st, the Constitutional Court officially announced that the verdict on President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment case will be delivered at 11 a.m. on the 4th in the Grand Courtroom.

This impeachment verdict comes 111 days after President Yoon was impeached on December 14 last year. Even counting from the end of the pleadings on February 25, it has been 38 days since the justices began their deliberations.

After much turbulence, the confirmation of the verdict date has created an atmosphere of excitement among political circles in Gwangju and Jeonnam.

Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam, wrote on social media, "The Constitutional Court has finally set the date for the verdict that the people have long awaited. Although it is overdue, I welcome the decision."

He added, "I am confident that there will be an 8-0 unanimous ruling in favor of impeachment, reflecting the people's wishes. With a unanimous decision to dismiss Yoon Suk-yeol, we must overcome all injustice and unite our strength to build a new, greater Republic of Korea."

Kang Gi-jung, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, also expressed high expectations for the Constitutional Court, posting, "What the people want to hear at 11 a.m. on April 4 is dismissal."

Despite the excitement, concerns and complaints toward the Constitutional Court continue. There is a sense that the delay in the verdict has deepened social anxiety and intensified generational and regional conflicts.

Jeon Kyung-sun, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Council, said, "The Constitutional Court's decision has come too late. Still, it is a welcome development that the verdict will be delivered on the 4th. Ultimately, the impeachment of President Yoon should be upheld. If not, there will be tremendous repercussions not only in the region but across society. The prolonged delay in setting the verdict date has greatly increased anxiety."

Jung Da-eun, a member of the Gwangju City Council, said, "Although it is late, I think it is fortunate that the verdict date has been set. Honestly, there is anxiety about how the Constitutional Court will rule, whether to uphold or dismiss. This feeling is widespread throughout the region. It is inevitable that the justices' decisions are politically influenced. Nevertheless, as one justice said, I hope all eight justices will make their decision based solely on the people, history, and the Constitution, with a sense of duty."

Cho Ok-hyun, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Council, stated, "Frankly, the confirmation of President Yoon's impeachment verdict is 'inevitable justice.' After the declaration of an unconstitutional emergency martial law, political and legal judgments on the rebellious forces were postponed for over 100 days. During this time, anxiety among the people over whether the impeachment would be upheld or dismissed has reached its peak."

He continued, "The criticism directed at the Constitutional Court stems from its own actions. The justices should make their ruling based on law and conscience, but I believe they made a political decision. This has resulted in widespread anxiety and conflict in our society."

Some voices argue that the Constitutional Court's process should be respected.

Jung Jun-ho, a member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "A lot of time has passed in setting the verdict date. The Constitutional Court is an institution that makes decisions at the national level, so it must be cautious. We should understand that."

He added, "The Constitutional Court is an institution that must protect the Constitution. The extended timeline should be seen as part of that process. Of course, this has caused a lot of anxiety, but given the time taken, we can somewhat anticipate the outcome. I think we can watch without much worry and should accept whatever decision is made."