SEOUL, South Korea, April 1, (AP): South Korea’s Constitutional Court will rule Friday on whether to formally dismiss or reinstate impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol - a decision that either way will likely deepen domestic divisions. The court has been deliberating on Yoon's political fate after the conservative leader was impeached in December by the National Assembly, which is controlled by the liberal opposition, over his brief imposition of martial law that triggered a massive political crisis.

Millions of people have rallied around the country to support or denounce Yoon. Police said they’ll mobilize all available personnel to preserve order and respond to possible acts of vandalism, arson and assault before and after the court's ruling. The Constitutional Court said in a brief statement Tuesday that it would issue its ruling at 11 am Friday and allow TV stations to broadcast it live.

Removing Yoon from office requires support from at least six of the court's eight justices. If the court rules against Yoon, South Korea must hold an election within two months for a new president. If the court overturns his impeachment, Yoon would immediately return to his presidential duties. Jo Seung-lae, a spokesperson for the main liberal opposition Democratic Party which led Yoon's impeachment, called for the court to "demonstrate its firm resolve” to uphold the constitutional order by dismissing Yoon.

Kwon Youngse, leader of Yoon’s People Power Party, urged the court’s justices to "consider the national interest” and produce a decision that is "strictly neutral and fair.” Many observers earlier predicted the court’s verdict would come in mid-March based on the timing of its rulings in past presidential impeachments. The court hasn’t explained why it takes longer time for Yoon's case, sparking rampant speculation on his political fate. At the heart of the matter is Yoon’s deployment of hundreds of troops and police officers to the National Assembly after imposing martial law on Dec 3.

Yoon has insisted that he aimed to maintain order, but some military and military officials testified Yoon ordered them to drag out lawmakers to frustrate a floor vote on his decree and detain his political opponents. Yoon argues that he didn’t intend to maintain martial law for long, and he only wanted to highlight what he called the "wickedness” of the Democratic Party, which obstructed his agenda, impeached senior officials and slashed his budget bill.