South Korea’s Constitutional Court Upholds Yoon Suk Yeol’s Impeachment, Removes Him from Office
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has confirmed the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his controversial martial law declaration. In a unanimous decision, the court voted to remove Yoon from office, citing violations of the constitution.
Yoon’s impeachment stemmed from a December 3 attempt to override civilian governance, which included deploying armed soldiers to the parliament in an effort to prevent lawmakers from overturning his decree. He was also arrested on charges of insurrection in a separate case.
The court’s ruling emphasized that Yoon’s actions severely undermined democratic governance and the constitutional order. By sending troops for political purposes, the court argued, Yoon violated the neutrality of the armed forces and put citizens at risk by using military force against them.
As a result of the ruling, new presidential elections must be held within 60 days. This marks the second time a South Korean president has been impeached, following the removal of Park Geun-hye in 2017.
The decision has sparked significant public unrest. While anti-Yoon protesters celebrated, Yoon’s supporters, some of whom tragically resorted to self-immolation in protest, expressed outrage at the verdict.
Despite the court’s ruling, Yoon retains support from a segment of the population, particularly those who back his claim of addressing “anti-state forces” with his martial law action. However, the ruling highlights the resilience of South Korean democracy in the face of major political challenges.
Since Yoon’s martial law declaration, South Korea has faced a leadership vacuum, with political and natural crises exacerbating the situation, including a major aviation disaster and severe wildfires. The country is also grappling with trade issues, including a 25% tariff imposed on exports to the U.S.
Yoon also faces criminal charges in a separate case related to the martial law decree, complicating his political future further.
