Reactions from Celebrities Following President Yoon Seok-yeol's Impeachment

The recent impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol has sparked a mix of emotions among celebrities in South Korea. Those who supported the impeachment are celebrating, while opponents are expressing despair and anger.

On April 4, actor Lee Dong-wook shared his thoughts on a fan communication platform, stating, "Ah, spring has finally arrived. Winter was too long. It feels like spring is getting closer," while adding the song "Into the New World" by Girls' Generation to his playlist.

Actress Shin So-yul also expressed her joy, saying, "Congratulations to everyone. Let's all live diligently and rightly together. Spring is here!" Her post included a live broadcast of MBC news covering the Constitutional Court's ruling on the impeachment of former President Yoon Seok-yeol. The news featured footage of citizens waving the national flag in celebration of Yoon's removal, with a caption stating, "The people have ousted the Yoon Seok-yeol dictatorship."

Singer Lee Seung-hwan announced, "I will have a drink today. I usually don’t drink during performances, and my ENT doctor advised against it, but how can I not celebrate a day that is good for both me and the nation? Plus, a fan sent me a celebratory food set!" He 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.

Jung Young-joo posted a short video on her personal social media, capturing the moment the Constitutional Court announced the impeachment ruling. At 11:22 AM, Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae declared, "We hereby remove President Yoon Seok-yeol from office," prompting Jung and her family to cheer and applaud in excitement.

Director Byun Young-joo shared a screenshot of the news coverage of the ruling, commenting, "Pack your bags," and later added, "So accept it."

Conversely, there are those who are outraged by the impeachment. Singer JK Kim Dong-wook, who had previously attended rallies opposing Yoon's impeachment and voiced his support on social media, expressed his anger on April 4. He stated, "Every time I see videos predicting that 2060 will be the year South Korea collapses, I thought it was impossible, but could it really happen this quickly? I had hoped for change before that."

He continued, "Now my perspective has changed. It seems we could collapse sooner than the world expects. To my fellow 2030s! I applaud and cheer for those who fought hard against this anti-national force."

He added, "We have reached a reality that is more despairing than hopeful, but we must continually ask ourselves what drives us and what keeps us alive."

Jeon Han-gil, a history instructor who was edited out of the Netflix original series 'Bokssak Sogassda,' bowed his head following Yoon's impeachment. After the ruling, he expressed his surprise at the unexpected outcome, saying, "I am a believer in God and trust that He guides everything. Today, the Constitutional Court ruled on President Yoon's impeachment, which was contrary to my expectations."

He expressed regret to those who shared his stance against the impeachment, stating, "I feel I have fallen short and I am sorry. However, the values we pursue call for national unity, regardless of whether one supports or opposes. I believe we stand for the defense of liberal democracy."

He emphasized the desire for a society that respects the rule of law, fairness, and common sense, stating, "We have fought for these values, not for personal gain, but for the nation, its people, and future generations. We believe we have been truthful and honest in our efforts."

Yoon Gyeol, a member of the band Jannabi, expressed his frustration, urging those celebrating the impeachment to reflect on their actions, stating, "Look for those who are happy about the impeachment and study the situation. What a terrible day."

At 11:22 AM on the same day, the Constitutional Court officially removed President Yoon Seok-yeol from office, with all eight judges unanimously agreeing on the decision. This ruling came 123 days after the declaration of martial law on December 3.

Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae stated, "The respondent (President Yoon) mobilized military and police forces to undermine constitutional institutions such as the National Assembly and violated the basic human rights of the people, failing to uphold his constitutional duties. The benefits of removing the respondent to uphold the Constitution far outweigh the national losses incurred by this impeachment."