Razor wire lines the perimeter of the Constitutional Court in central Seoul and police buses have formed barricades around the area, Sunday. Yonhap

The spotlight is now on the Constitutional Court as it prepares to rule on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case. There is widespread speculation that the court will announce its final decision this week, determining whether Yoon will be reinstated or removed from office for his Dec. 3 martial law declaration.

Many observers expect the court will announce the ruling date early this week and deliver the verdict sometime between Wednesday and Friday, following the timeline of previous presidential impeachments.

In 2004, then President Roh Moo-hyun was reinstated by the Constitutional Court just 14 days after the final hearing of his impeachment trial. In contrast, former President Park Geun-hye, who was removed from office in 2017 over a corruption scandal, received her verdict 11 days after the final hearing. Both presidents received their rulings on a Friday.

Given that the final hearing of Yoon's case was held on Feb. 25 and based on precedents, Friday appears to be the likely date. The Constitutional Court typically announces a ruling date two to three days in advance.

Moreover, the Constitutional Court has yet to set a ruling date for the impeachment trial of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as acting president, adding another key factor that could influence the timing of its ruling for Yoon.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) has consistently urged the court to deliver a verdict on Han's impeachment first. Han was impeached by the opposition-led National Assembly on Dec. 27, and has been suspended from his duties since then.

"The Constitutional Court should either reinstate Han or remove him from office as early as today. The PPP will accept any verdict given by the judges," Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, floor leader of the PPP, said during a press conference Sunday.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said it would also accept the verdict regardless of the outcome. "Of course we will accept any verdict given by the judges. It's so obvious. What makes this newsworthy?" DPK floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae told reporters Sunday.

A key reason behind Han's impeachment was his refusal to meet a demand from the DPK to appoint justices to fill three vacant seats at the Constitutional Court. The DPK argued that filling these positions was essential to ensure fairness and public confidence in the court's ruling on Yoon's impeachment. Han, however, insisted he would not make the appointments without bipartisan consent.

Two Constitutional Court justices have been appointed since the National Assembly's impeachment motion against Yoon was ratified on Dec. 14, leaving one out of nine seats vacant.

If six or more of the justices vote in favor of impeachment, Yoon, who has been suspended from presidential duties, will be removed from office immediately and stripped of all presidential privileges. He is also likely to face a pending criminal trial for insurrection. Following his removal, Korea will hold a snap election within 60 days.

If less than six of the justices vote for impeachment, Yoon will retain his position as head of state.

Given past rulings and the current political polarization, many speculate that the eight Constitutional Court justices will likely avoid issuing a dissenting opinion. Last week, the eight justices made a unanimous decision to overturn motions by the Assembly to impeach Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choe Jae-hae, along with three senior prosecutors, including Lee Chang-soo, the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Rallies against President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and for Yoon are underway in Seoul, Saturday. Yonhap

Supporters and critics of Yoon intensified their rallies in Seoul over the weekend, with some demanding his removal from office and others rallying in his defense, all in anticipation of the upcoming impeachment ruling.

In Gwanghwamun, an estimated 42,500 people gathered and chanted for Yoon's removal from office. The DPK lawmakers marched from the National Assembly in Yeouido to Gyeongbok Palace in downtown Seoul calling for Yoon's impeachment.

"The Constitutional Court must deliver its ruling on Yoon's impeachment as soon as possible. It has the responsibility to end the deadlock in the government by removing Yoon, who destroyed the constitutional order and democracy," Park said.

Conservative groups, including the Liberty Unification Party, also held rallies in central Seoul and in Hannam-dong, where Yoon's presidential residence is located, calling for his immediate reinstatement.

Yoon's legal team did not release any official statements, saying that the president will calmly await the decision.