Reactions from the Entertainment Industry Following President Yoon Seok-yeol's Impeachment
Following the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol, reactions from the entertainment industry have been mixed. Singer Lee Seung-hwan, who has been a vocal supporter of the impeachment, posted on his personal social media on April 4, stating, "I will have a drink today at the pub. I usually don’t drink during performances, and even 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 snack set!" He also shared a photo of the side dishes sent by a fan, who expressed hopes for a peaceful future for South Korea and the well-being of Lee Seung-hwan.
In a more emotional response, writer Soae Won, who actively participated in pro-impeachment rallies, shared, "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 about my children. I felt defeated for the first time." He expressed his deep gratitude for the Constitutional Court's decision to impeach the president.
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 adding the song "Into the New World" by Girls' Generation. Shin So-yul also celebrated on social media, saying, "Congratulations, everyone! Let’s all live well together moving forward. Spring is here!"
Jung Young-joo, who has not hidden her stance against President Yoon, shared a video of her family cheering and clapping after the Constitutional Court's announcement at 11:22 AM, stating, "Order: The respondent, President Yoon Seok-yeol, is impeached!" She added humorous hashtags to her post, enhancing the celebratory mood.
Other actors like Kim Gyu-ri, Kim Ui-sung, and Kim Ji-woo also expressed their joy over the impeachment decision.
Conversely, JK Kim Dong-wook expressed his despair, stating, "Every time I see videos predicting that 2060 will be the year of South Korea's collapse, I thought it was unlikely, but now I wonder if it could happen sooner. I used to hope for change, but now I feel it may collapse faster than expected." He applauded the efforts of the youth in opposing the anti-national forces during the impeachment process, acknowledging the grim reality ahead.
Far-right figure Kim Heung-guk expressed his outrage in an interview, saying, "An unimaginable event has occurred. I thought we would win. I expected either dismissal or acquittal. Now, I’m worried about where South Korea is headed and how we should live."
The Constitutional Court held a session at 11 AM on the same day in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where all judges unanimously decided to impeach President Yoon Seok-yeol. The impeachment took effect immediately, resulting in the president losing his position just 122 days after he declared a state of emergency on December 3 and 111 days after the impeachment motion was submitted on December 14 of the previous year.
