South Korean Constitutional Court Removes President Yoon From Office After Martial Law Scandal.
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has officially removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, upholding his impeachment in a landmark ruling delivered on Friday. The decision follows months of national unrest and controversy after Yoon’s brief declaration of martial law last December.
The dramatic ruling was read out at 11 a.m. local time by Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyungbae, who confirmed that all eight justices unanimously agreed to oust the president. The court found Yoon guilty of having “betrayed the trust of the people” and “severely violated the law.” The judgment takes immediate effect and cannot be appealed.
Thousands of South Koreans took to the streets of Seoul to celebrate the ruling, waving flags and chanting in jubilation after weeks of enduring cold weather in protest. Demonstrators both for and against the president had been holding rallies across the capital in the lead-up to the court’s verdict.
Yoon’s removal marks a historic moment in South Korea’s democracy, making him only the second president in the country’s history to be impeached and removed from office.
What Triggered the Impeachment?
On 3 December, Yoon shocked the nation by declaring martial law live on national television—a move that lasted only six hours. Lawmakers quickly convened and overturned the decree. During that time, troops were reportedly deployed to the National Assembly under Yoon’s orders, allegedly to prevent the legislature from voting on the matter.
Justice Moon said in the ruling that Yoon’s declaration of martial law failed to meet the constitutional threshold of a national crisis. Despite the president later reversing the order, the court maintained that the action constituted a grave abuse of power and warranted his removal.
What Happens Next?
With Yoon officially out of office, Acting President Han Duck-soo will continue to serve as head of state until a new leader is elected. South Korea’s constitution requires that a snap election be held within 60 days—by early June at the latest. The National Election Commission is expected to announce the date shortly.
Political parties are preparing for primary elections to choose their candidates. Lee Jae-myung, head of the opposition Democratic Party and a long-time political rival of Yoon, is considered the front-runner. He narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election and has since led the charge to hold the former president accountable.
Meanwhile, the ruling People Power Party faces internal uncertainty following the resignation of its former leader, Han Dong-hoon, who stepped down in December over disagreements regarding Yoon’s handling of martial law. Potential candidates such as Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo have been mentioned as possible contenders.
The coming weeks are expected to be politically intense, as South Korea prepares to elect its next leader amid one of the most turbulent periods in its recent history.
