South Korean Constitutional Court Upholds Impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol
The ruling confirms the dismissal of Yoon Suk Yeol over his imposition of martial law amid a national crisis.
SEOUL.
The Constitutional Court of South Korea has upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who briefly declared martial law in December, plunging the nation into a significant crisis.
The court’s ruling marks the definitive removal of Yoon from office, following his prior suspension from duties.
According to the court, early elections are mandated to occur within a maximum of 60 days.
The martial law, which lasted only a few hours, involved the mobilization of military forces to the National Assembly during the night of December 3 to 4. This unprecedented action disrupted both the political and economic landscape of South Korea, a key ally of the United States.
Formerly a high-profile prosecutor, the conservative Yoon was earlier suspended by a parliamentary motion and subsequently arrested on charges of insurrection, leading to nearly two months of incarceration.
In a unanimous decision delivered by Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae, the court emphasized that Yoon’s actions violated fundamental principles of the rule of law and democratic governance.
Moon stated, "The accused did not simply declare martial law but engaged in acts that contravened the Constitution and the law, such as deploying military and police forces to prevent the National Assembly from exercising its authority."
The Chief Justice characterized Yoon’s unconstitutional actions as a betrayal of public trust and a severe violation of law, which is intolerable from a constitutional protection perspective.
In addition to the impeachment proceedings, Yoon is facing criminal charges for insurrection, which in South Korea can carry penalties ranging from life imprisonment to the death penalty.
Yoon justified the martial law declaration by citing threats from North Korea, which maintains a nuclear arsenal, and alleged anti-state elements within the National Assembly.
However, the Constitutional Court ruled that the military deployment was executed for political motivations, leading to confrontations between soldiers tasked with national security and ordinary citizens.
The ruling was met with emotional responses: anti-Yoon protesters celebrated outside the court, while supporters gathered at Yoon's residence, expressing their discontent with the decision.
The Constitutional Court of South Korea has upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who briefly declared martial law in December, plunging the nation into a significant crisis.
The court’s ruling marks the definitive removal of Yoon from office, following his prior suspension from duties.
According to the court, early elections are mandated to occur within a maximum of 60 days.
The martial law, which lasted only a few hours, involved the mobilization of military forces to the National Assembly during the night of December 3 to 4. This unprecedented action disrupted both the political and economic landscape of South Korea, a key ally of the United States.
Formerly a high-profile prosecutor, the conservative Yoon was earlier suspended by a parliamentary motion and subsequently arrested on charges of insurrection, leading to nearly two months of incarceration.
In a unanimous decision delivered by Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae, the court emphasized that Yoon’s actions violated fundamental principles of the rule of law and democratic governance.
Moon stated, "The accused did not simply declare martial law but engaged in acts that contravened the Constitution and the law, such as deploying military and police forces to prevent the National Assembly from exercising its authority."
The Chief Justice characterized Yoon’s unconstitutional actions as a betrayal of public trust and a severe violation of law, which is intolerable from a constitutional protection perspective.
In addition to the impeachment proceedings, Yoon is facing criminal charges for insurrection, which in South Korea can carry penalties ranging from life imprisonment to the death penalty.
Yoon justified the martial law declaration by citing threats from North Korea, which maintains a nuclear arsenal, and alleged anti-state elements within the National Assembly.
However, the Constitutional Court ruled that the military deployment was executed for political motivations, leading to confrontations between soldiers tasked with national security and ordinary citizens.
The ruling was met with emotional responses: anti-Yoon protesters celebrated outside the court, while supporters gathered at Yoon's residence, expressing their discontent with the decision.
