Yoon says he will stand by supporters without message of accepting court's ruling on his ouster
Protesters against the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol hold rallies at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Saturday, a day after the Constitutional Court ruled to remove Yoon from office over his short-lived martial law bid in December. Yonhap
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol said Sunday he will always stand by his supporters, two days after the Constitutional Court ruled to remove him from office, while not issuing any message of his accepting the court's decision.
"As long as you — young people — do not lose confidence, our future will be bright. Though I step down from presidency, I will always stand by you," Yoon said in a message, released by his legal team, to a group of his supporters.
Yoon said he is grateful for their support, saying that "realizing the nation's grave crisis situation, you have made a journey to defend freedom and sovereign rights, which will be recorded as a great history."
It marked Yoon's second statement since Friday, when the court upheld his impeachment over his brief martial law declaration in December.
On Friday, Yoon said he was sorry for not being able to meet public expectations and it has been the greatest honor of his life to serve the nation.
With Yoon's ouster, South Korea should hold a snap presidential election within 60 days of the court's ruling. (Yonhap)