South Korea's Constitutional Court Removes President Yoon Suk Yeol Following Martial Law Declaration

Yoon's impeachment upheld after declaring martial law and deploying military forces to parliament; national election to follow.

South Korea's Constitutional Court has upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, officially removing him from office following a declaration of martial law that triggered significant political unrest.

The court’s unanimous decision comes four months after Yoon's controversial actions, which included sending troops to the National Assembly in an effort to break a legislative deadlock.

Under South Korean law, a national election must be conducted within two months to elect a new president.

The court's verdict was delivered by acting chief justice Moon Hyung-bae, who stated that Yoon's martial law decree constituted a serious violation of both the constitution and other legal statutes.

"The defendant not only declared martial law but also mobilized military and police forces to obstruct the exercise of legislative authority," Mr. Moon explained.

He emphasized that Yoon's actions had grave implications for the nation's constitutional order.

The impeachment proceedings were initiated by the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which voted overwhelmingly to remove Yoon on December 14, citing his actions as unconstitutional, including efforts to suppress legislative activities and detain political opponents.

Following the court’s ruling, Yoon did not issue a public statement, although one of his legal representatives criticized the outcome as politically motivated.

The ruling party, the People Power Party, announced its acceptance of the court's decision.

Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo addressed the nation in a televised speech, pledging to uphold national security and maintain public order during the transition to a new administration.

"I will do my utmost to manage the next presidential election in accordance with the constitution and the law," he remarked.

The political climate surrounding Yoon's presidency has been tumultuous, marked by widespread protests both supporting and opposing him.

Following the court’s decision, rallies in support of Yoon are expected to intensify, reflecting a continued division within the country.

Yoon's declaration of martial law occurred on December 3, when he justified the move as necessary to maintain order.

However, testimonies from some military and police officials indicated that Yoon had instructed them to act against lawmakers, ultimately leading to the assembly's unanimous rejection of his martial law decree.

The National Assembly's impeachment decision was founded on accusations of violations that extended beyond the martial law decree, with charges of abuse of power looming in the absence of presidential immunity.

Yoon is notable for being the first South Korean president to face arrest or indictment during their term.

Prior to his presidency, Yoon served as the prosecutor-general under former President Moon Jae-in, transitioning to political leadership in 2021 amid political disputes.

His ascent to the presidency was marked by a reputation for decisiveness, which he leveraged in a closely contested election against main opposition figure Lee Jae-myung in 2022. Since taking office, however, Yoon's administration has faced criticism for perceived failures in governance and responses to scandals.