Yoon's prolonged impeachment verdict raises early election tension

On the political front.

While President Yoon Suk-yeol's fate hovers in limbo AS the Constitutional Court has yet to share its verdict on his impeachment opposition leader Lee Jae-myung 's chances of mounting a campaign IF an early election takes place have been bolstered.

Our senior correspondent Oh Soo-young explains.

Suspense remains over President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case, as the Constitutional Court deliberates for more than a month.

As of Friday, 31 days have passed since Yoon's final trial hearing was held marking a record in terms of time taken by the Court, compared to previous presidential impeachment cases, which took at most 14 days.

As the judicial bench typically gives advance notice of at least two working days before a ruling, the Court is now expected to issue its decision in April before two justices retire mid-month.

With ambiguity over the when and what the verdict will be, there's growing tension brewing in political circles, as Yoon's impeachment would spark an early Presidential Election within two months.

The opposition party is pushing for Yoon's swift removal, as their party leader Lee Jae-myung, is currently the pollster's favorite among presidential hopefuls.

On Wednesday, Lee was acquitted in one of his five criminal trials, overturning a ruling by a lower court last year that handed Lee a one-year sentence and a two-year suspension from office for violating the election law.

This cleared a major hurdle to gaining his party's full endorsement for the race.

The ruling People Power Party had been hoping for the opposite result, leading to cries of foul against the justice system.

There's now even greater pressure directed at the Constitutional Court.

The opposition is calling for Yoon's immediate impeachment while the ruling party is demanding his return to power as in the case of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, whose impeachment case was dismissed on Monday.

Public rallies also continue outside and around the Court.

Recent polls indicate that 51 percent of voters want a change of government, while 37 percent wish to maintain the current administration.

Those for and against impeachment also recorded around 58 percent and 37 percent, respectively.

Underscoring how closely contested the political environment remains,

the survey shows equal 36 percent support for the ruling and opposition parties, with the PPP gaining three percentage points compared to the previous week.

As the Court's ruling stretches on, expectation for Yoon's impeachment was down by six percentage points from last week, while those expecting his return, hit 39 percent.

Amid prolonged uncertainty, one thing remains clear: this is not merely a constitutional decision but a ruling that will inevitably carry significant political ramifications.

Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.