South Korea's opposition says delay of Yoon impeachment ruling is irresponsible

SEOUL - South Korea's opposition Democratic Party on March 17 urged the country's Constitutional Court to swiftly rule on

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment

, saying keeping the country waiting is “irresponsible” and deepening social division.

As the eight-member court continued deliberations well into a third week, political tensions have surged between those who demand Mr Yoon's ouster for declaring a short-lived martial law in December and supporters who want him reinstated.

The court

wrapped up arguments

on Feb 25, where Mr Yoon said his martial law declaration was needed to root out “anti-state” elements, but that he never intended to fully impose emergency military rule.

Democratic Party leadership member Kim Min-seok said: “The country and the people have come to the breaking point.”

Mr Kim told a party meeting: “We wait for the court’s responsible decision. Further delay is not normal, and irresponsible.”

In 2017, former president Park Geun-hye was removed from office 11 days after final arguments in the Constitutional Court in her impeachment trial.

South Koreans have

gathered in huge numbers in the capital Seoul

supporting and backing Mr Yoon’s removal, saying the delay has been frustrating and made confusion worse.

The conservative leader was impeached by the Democratic Party-controlled Parliament in December for violating his constitutional duty.

The impeachment motion said that he committed acts that are a grave threat to rule of law and more than disqualify him from office.

Mr Yoon is on a separate criminal trial on charges of leading insurrection, which is punishable by death or life in prison.

The fallout of Mr Yoon’s martial law declaration has widened the rifts between conservatives, liberals and the public, adding stress on institutions and putting much of the government’s policymaking in limbo.

Some of the country's top military commanders have been taken off duty and face criminal trials for their roles in the martial law decree.

Arguments in the trial of former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun on insurrection charges begin on March 17.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was

briefly acting president

after Mr Yoon was impeached and suspended from power on Dec 14, has also been impeached, and the country is now led by the Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok. REUTERS