Japanese Government Closely Watching Yoon Impeachment Trial Tomorrow... "Concerned About Impact on Japan-South Korea Diplomacy"

Concerns Over Weakened Diplomatic Momentum Toward Japan
Yomiuri: "Possibility of Regime Change if President Is Dismissed"

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on the 3rd that the Japanese government is closely monitoring the ruling on President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial, considering the diplomatic repercussions between South Korea and Japan. Given the inevitability of cooperation with South Korea on issues such as North Korea and pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump on allied countries, it is interpreted that the Japanese government is paying close attention to the verdict.

Tension is mounting on April 3rd at the Grand Bench of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, one day before the Constitutional Court's ruling on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol. 2025.04.03 Photo by Joint Press Corps

In this regard, Japanese government spokesperson Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference the previous day, "Although there are various movements within South Korea's domestic political situation, both countries need to work with the recognition that the importance of South Korea-Japan relations in the current strategic environment remains unchanged."

The Yomiuri predicted that if President Yoon is dismissed by the Constitutional Court's ruling on the 4th, a presidential election will be held within 60 days, and there is a possibility of a regime change to a progressive faction that has been strict toward Japan.

It added, "The achievements of a dismissed president tend to be subject to criticism," and reported that voices of concern are emerging within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that the dramatically improved South Korea-Japan relations under President Yoon could be shaken again.

The newspaper pointed out that "After the dismissal of President Park Geun-hye in 2017, President Moon Jae-in, who took office, effectively nullified the comfort women agreement," noting that this time, the impeachment motion initially included criticism of diplomacy toward Japan but was deleted at the end.

The Yomiuri analyzed that even if the impeachment is dismissed or rejected and President Yoon returns to office, the fact that the ruling party is a minority in the National Assembly will not change, and the regime's foundation could be weakened by opposition party attacks. It added that this could also reduce South Korea's diplomatic momentum toward Japan.

The Yomiuri stated, "The Japanese government intends to watch the developments, including South Korean public opinion."