"Immortal Yoon" vs "The Day the King Dies"... Various Interpretations Surrounding the April 4th Verdict

Each Support Group Interprets the Verdict Date Favorably

The Constitutional Court announced that "the verdict on President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment case is scheduled for April 4th at 11 AM in the Grand Courtroom," leading to various interpretations from both sides. Each support group is confident of victory based on interpretations favorable to them.

On the 1st, the Constitutional Court informed the press that it would decide on April 4th whether to remove President Yoon from office or allow him to return to his duties. The impeachment trial verdict comes 111 days after President Yoon was impeached on December 14th last year. It is 38 days since the conclusion of arguments on February 25th and the start of the judges' deliberations.

If the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment, President Yoon will be immediately removed from office. If dismissed or rejected, he will return to his duties immediately. A decision to remove requires the consent of at least six of the eight current judges.

The Constitutional Court will determine whether President Yoon violated the Constitution and martial law in the process of declaring, maintaining, and lifting the December 3rd martial law. If the illegal acts are deemed serious enough to no longer allow him to perform his duties and betray the public's trust, the impeachment will be upheld; otherwise, it will be dismissed. If the National Assembly's impeachment motion is deemed procedurally inadequate, it can be rejected.

Online communities are offering favorable interpretations of the designated verdict date from each camp. In pro-opposition communities such as the fan cafe of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, the number '4' is written in Chinese as 'death' (死), translating April 4th as 'Death Month Death Day' and urging a high-level impeachment. Some pro-opposition communities even write the verdict time in Chinese (Death Month Death Day Eleven O'clock (King)) and claim it is "the day the king dies," attempting to rally their supporters.

Some of them mention President Yoon's baptismal name, known as 'Ambrosio.' Coincidentally, the day Saint Ambrosio, a Catholic saint, died was April 4th, 497 AD. President Yoon received the baptismal name 'Ambrosio' at Myeongdong Cathedral during his time at Seoul National University Law School in 1981.

Saint Ambrosio was one of the four great doctors of the Western (Catholic) Church in the 4th century. He was appointed as a Roman Empire consul and became a bishop after gaining favor from the church while mediating between the Orthodox and Arian (Monophysite) factions. He is credited with influencing the development of Christian culture at the time, including reforming liturgical practices.

On the other hand, President Yoon's supporters and anti-impeachment forces are likening April 4th to a "4 to 4 dismissal" by the Constitutional Court. The ruling party, the People Power Party, also expressed reactions like "4 (uphold) to 4 (dismissal) would be good" (Lee Jong-wook, Deputy Floor Leader).

Additionally, they argue that the meaning of 'Ambrosio,' mentioned by pro-impeachment supporters, originates from Greek meaning 'immortal,' claiming that April 4th is "the day President Yoon is reborn and starts anew," and "ultimately the day it is proven that President Yoon is immortal."

Shin Hyun-bo, Hankyung.com Reporter greaterfool@hankyung.com