The South Korean Constitutional Court yesterday unanimously removed Yoon Suk-yeol from office, ending his presidency and setting up a new election, four months after he issued an ill-fated declaration of martial law.
The verdict capped a dramatic fall for Yoon, a former star prosecutor who became president in 2022, just a year after he entered politics.
In a televised hearing, the court’s acting chief Moon Hyung-bae said that the eight-member bench found Yoon’s actions were unconstitutional and had a grave impact.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“By declaring martial law in breach of the constitution and other laws, the defendant brought back the history of abusing state emergency decrees, shocked the people and caused confusion in the society, economy, politics, diplomacy and all other areas,” Moon said. “Given the negative impact on constitutional order caused by the defendant’s violation of laws and its ripple effects are grave, we find that the benefits of upholding the constitution by dismissing the defendant far outweigh the national losses from the dismissal of the president.”
Protesters near the court erupted into tears and danced when the verdict was announced in the late morning.
Two women wept as they hugged and an old man near them leaped to his feet and screamed with joy.
The crowd later began marching through Seoul.
Outside Yoon’s official residence, many supporters cried, screamed and yelled at journalists when they saw the news of the verdict on a giant TV screen.
However, they quickly cooled down after an organizer pleaded for calm.
“We will absolutely not be shaken,” a protest leader said on stage. “Anyone who accepts this ruling and prepares for an early presidential election is our enemy.”
An election is likely within two months for a new president.
Yoon said in a statement issued via his defense team that he deeply regrets failing to live up to the public’s expectations.
There have been fears he would incite efforts to resist his removal, as he earlier vowed to fight to the end.
He added that he would pray for the country and its people.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve our nation,” Yoon said.
Yoon’s ruling People Power Party said it would accept the decision, but one of Yoon’s lawyers, Yoon Kap-keun, called the ruling “completely incomprehensible” and a “pure political decision.”
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country’s acting leader, vowed to maintain public safety and order and ensure a smooth transition to the next administration.
Surveys show that Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, is the early favorite to win the upcoming presidential by-election, although he faces several trials for corruption and other charges.
Lee welcomed the ruling and credited the South Korean people for “protecting our democratic republic.”
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