President Yoon Suk-yeol Impeached: Reactions from the Entertainment Industry
On April 4, 2025, the Constitutional Court of South Korea announced the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, marking a significant moment in the nation's political landscape. The court's unanimous decision came during a session held at 11 AM in Jongno-gu, Seoul, resulting in the immediate loss of Yoon's presidential position. This decision follows 122 days since Yoon declared a state of emergency on December 3 and 111 days since the impeachment motion was filed on December 14.
Singer Lee Seung-hwan, who had actively supported the impeachment and participated in protests, took to his personal social media to express his joy, stating, "I will have a drink today at the draft. I usually don’t drink during performances, and my ENT doctor advised against it, but how can I not celebrate a day where I live and the nation lives? Plus, a fan sent me a celebratory food set!" He also shared a photo of the side dishes sent by a fan, who wished for a peaceful future for South Korea and the well-being of the singer.
Writer So Jae-won, who had been vocal in favor of the impeachment, shared his emotional response, saying, "Today, I will allow myself to cry. Honestly, it has been incredibly tough. For the first time in my life as a writer, I faced a negative balance in my bank account, threats from far-right extremists, and false news affecting my children’s school. I felt defeated for the first time." He expressed his overwhelming relief at the court's decision.
Actor Lee Dong-wook shared his thoughts on a fan communication platform, saying, "Ah, spring has finally arrived. Winter was too long. It feels like spring is getting closer," while referencing the song "Into the New World" by Girls' Generation (소녀시대). Shin So-yul also celebrated on social media, writing, "Congratulations, everyone! Let’s all live well together moving forward. Spring is here!"
Jung Young-joo, who had not hidden her support for the impeachment, posted a video of her family cheering and clapping after the court's announcement, exclaiming, "Hooray!" She added humorous hashtags to her post, further expressing her joy.
Other celebrities, including Kim Gyu-ri, Kim Ui-sung, Kim Ji-woo, and Tei, also expressed their happiness regarding the court's decision.
Conversely, JK Kim Dong-wook shared a more somber perspective, stating, "Every time I see videos predicting that 2060 will be the year of South Korea's collapse, I thought it was far-fetched, but now I wonder if it could happen sooner. I have changed my mind. The reality may be more despairing than hopeful."
He continued, "I applaud the efforts of our generation, the 2030s, who fought against the anti-national forces opposing this impeachment. While we may face a bleak reality, we must continually ask ourselves what ignites our passion and keeps us alive."
Far-right figure Kim Heung-guk expressed his outrage in an interview, stating, "An unimaginable event has occurred. I thought we would win. I expected either a dismissal or a rejection. Now, I am worried about where South Korea is headed and how we should live."
