In a historic ruling on Friday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was officially removed from office after the Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment. The court's decision came after Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law during a budget dispute with the opposition in December 2024.
Yoon’s move to impose martial law was justified by the president on grounds of national security, accusing the opposition of working against the state and being infiltrated by communists. However, no evidence was provided to substantiate these claims, and the court found the justification insufficient. The court's unanimous ruling emphasized that the imposition of martial law was not warranted by any national crisis, and it condemned Yoon’s actions as illegal, especially his deployment of soldiers to the National Assembly to block efforts to lift the martial law order.
Acting court chief Moon Hyung Bae, reading the ruling live, explained, “The negative effects on the constitutional order and the repercussions from the defendant’s violations of the law are grave, making the benefits of protecting the Constitution by dismissing the defendant larger than the national losses from dismissing the president by an overwhelming degree.”
Following the ruling, Yoon expressed regret for his actions, acknowledging that he had failed to meet public expectations. In a statement hours after the court's decision, he said, “I deeply regret not being able to live up to your hopes and expectations. It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve our nation. I am sincerely grateful for your unwavering support and encouragement, even when I fell short.”
The ruling sets the stage for fresh presidential elections within the next 60 days, during which Prime Minister Han Duck Soo will serve as acting president. According to recent polls, opposition leader Lee Jae Myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential race, is currently the frontrunner.
In response to the court's decision, Yoon’s ruling People Power Party stated that it “humbly accepts” the verdict, while the main opposition Democratic Party hailed the ruling as a “people’s victory.”
Ahead of the decision, authorities took extensive security measures, deploying over 14,000 police officers in central Seoul to prevent any violent protests or riots. Despite the court ruling, Yoon faces further legal challenges, with trials looming on insurrection charges for his martial law actions. If convicted, Yoon could face a lengthy prison sentence, prolonging the political turmoil in South Korea.
