South Korea’s top court on Friday made a unanimous decision to remove impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol from office due to his controversial martial law declaration, leading to fresh elections following months of political instability. Yoon, 64, had been suspended by lawmakers after his attempt on December 3 to undermine civilian rule, which involved deploying armed soldiers to parliament. He was also arrested on charges of insurrection in connection with a separate criminal case.
Millions of South Koreans watched the verdict being delivered live on television, and the country’s main messaging app, KakaoTalk, reported that users experienced delays due to a surge in traffic. Acting court President Moon Hyung-bae, while announcing the ruling, stated, “Given the serious negative impact and far-reaching consequences of the respondent’s constitutional violations… (We) dismiss respondent President Yoon Suk Yeol.” The removal of Yoon from office, which took effect immediately, calls for new presidential elections, which must be held within the next 60 days. Authorities are expected to announce the date soon.
Outside the courthouse, AFP reporters overheard Yoon’s supporters shouting threats toward the judges, who had unanimously upheld Yoon’s impeachment. In response, police have been assigned additional protection for the judges. The court’s ruling highlighted that Yoon’s actions “violate the core principles of the rule of law and democratic governance.” The judges pointed out that Yoon’s deployment of armed soldiers to prevent parliament from voting on his decree “violated the political neutrality of the armed forces” and was done for “political purposes.” “In the end, the respondent’s unconstitutional and illegal acts are a betrayal of the people’s trust and constitute a serious violation of the law that cannot be tolerated,” they concluded.
Opposition lawmakers applauded as the verdict was announced, calling it a “historic” moment, while members of Yoon’s party left the courtroom in silence. In a brief statement released after the ruling, Yoon apologized for not meeting the expectations of the people.
Yoon becomes the second South Korean leader to be impeached by the court, following Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in 2017. The trial followed weeks of tense hearings, during which judges deliberated for more than a month while public unrest grew. Security measures were heightened, with police raising the alert to the highest level, surrounding the courthouse with vehicles and positioning special operations teams nearby.
Protesters who opposed Yoon gathered outdoors to watch the live broadcast of the verdict, erupting into loud cheers when his removal was confirmed. Some protesters burst into tears. “When the dismissal was finally declared, the cheers were so loud it felt like the rally was being swept away,” said 25-year-old Kim Min-ji, an anti-Yoon protester.
Despite the impeachment, Yoon retains strong backing from his extreme supporters. Outside his residence, these supporters shouted and swore, with some even crying as the decision was announced. Tragically, at least two staunch Yoon supporters have died after self-immolating in protest of his impeachment.
Professor Byunghwan Son of George Mason University emphasized that the decision exemplifies the resilience of South Korean democracy. “The very fact that the system did not collapse suggests that the Korean democracy can survive even the worst challenge against it — a coup attempt,” he stated.
In a notable change, portraits of Yoon will be taken down from military offices, as required by defense ministry regulations, which mandate that a photo of the country’s commander-in-chief be displayed at these offices.
Following the court’s decision, the Korean won strengthened sharply against the US dollar, and Seoul’s benchmark KOSPI index rose by 0.35 percent. South Korea has been without a functioning head of state for the past four months, following Yoon’s martial law declaration. The opposition party impeached Yoon’s stand-in president, who was later reinstated by a court ruling. The country has experienced a leadership vacuum during this time, amidst multiple crises, including a major aviation disaster and the deadliest wildfires in its history.
This week, South Korea also faced a significant blow to its economy with the imposition of a 25 percent tariff on exports to its key ally, the United States, after President Donald Trump introduced global reciprocal levies.
After the ruling, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik stated, “We have reaffirmed that no one in the Republic of Korea can be above the law.” He also emphasized that any power involved in unconstitutional or illegal acts must be held accountable.
Yoon is also facing a separate criminal trial on charges related to insurrection due to his martial law declaration. Until the new elections are held, acting president Han Duck-soo will continue to serve as the head of state.
