SEOUL: Thousands protested in the South Korean capital on Saturday in support of disgraced ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office a day earlier over his bungled martial law declaration.

South Korea`s Constitutional Court unanimously ruled on Friday to remove Yoon over the Dec 3 attempt to subvert civilian rule, triggering fresh elections to be held by June after months of political turmoil.

A long wait for the court`s ruling had heightened tensions in the Asian nation, fuelling far-right supportfor Yoon and weekly rival rallies in capital Seoul. His supporters took to the streets and braved the rain on Saturday, chanting `impeachment is invalid! and `nullify the snap election!` `The Constitutional Court`s decision destroyed our country`s free democracy,` said a protester.

`Speaking as someone in my 20s or 30s, I`m deeply worried about the future.

Yoon had defended his martial law attempt as necessary to root out `anti-state forces`andwhatheclaimed were threats from North Korea.-AFP