On April 4th, the constitutional court announced its decision to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol from office immediately. It further declared that new elections must be held within 60 days. This decision came 4 months after South Korea’s National Assembly passed a bill that asked for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol over his decision to impose martial law in December 2024. The entire political turmoil ended with Yoon being the first South Korean president charged with treason.
Yoon Suk Yeol stripped of the presidency
The constitutional court announced its decision holding Yoon Suk Yeol accountable for violating the South Korean constitution. All eight judges were unanimous in their decision to effectively dismiss him from office. Their official ruling read, “(Yoon’s decisions) violate the core principles of rule and law.” They further mentioned that his action “posed a grave threat to the stability of the democratic republic.”
The judges expressed their disappointment saying that Yoon deployed the troops to the parliament for political reasons. He attempted to prevent the lawmakers from rejecting his ruling. In their official statement, the court stated that this action “violated the political neutrality of the armed forces and the duty of supreme command.”
The judges concluded their ruling by referring to Yoon’s actions as “illegal” and called it “a betrayal of the people’s trust”.
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Yoon’s decision to impose martial law
On December 3rd, President Yoon Suk Yeol released a statement on TV announcing his decision to declare martial law in the country. He defended his action saying that it was to protect the country from “threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces”. Yoon sent armed troops to the parliament to prevent the decisionmakers from overturning his decision.
However, on December 4th, the lawmakers overturned his ruling with a final vote of 190-0. The troopers retreated and Yoon soon disappeared. The same day, the opposition announced their decision to officially file charges against Yoon. The law officials soon announced that they were investigating him and other higher officials for “insurrection”.
Yoon removed from office
This prompted the lawmakers to vote to strip Yoon of his Presidency. After the initial vote failed, the second vote impeached Yoon with a vote of 204 in favor and 85 against. Yoon was thereby removed from office while Prime Minister Han Duck stepped up to temporarily carry out the duties. The constitutional court began to prepare to give their official ruling.
Attempt to arrest Yoon
On December 27, another vote in the parliament impeached President Han Duck over his refusal to sign orders to investigate the former President. Soon after, an arrest warrant for Yoon Suk Yeol was released. However, after an intense 6-hour standoff with Yoon’s personal guards, the officials stood down citing security issues.
On January 15, police officials reached Yoon’s residence in an attempt to once again arrest him. However, similar to the previous time, they were met with resistance from his personal security and supporters. The officials attempted to negotiate with Yoon explaining to him that the warrant had already been released and the arrest was inevitable. Later, Yoon arrived at their office to surrender himself. He stated that his decision was to “prevent bloodshed”.
3 days later, the court extended his detainment, a decision that caused massive unrest among his supporters outside the court.
On March 8, he was released after the court’s decision and was seen greeting his supporters outside the detention center.
South Korea’s disaster
The decision to uphold the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol collides with Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on exports to the United States. Its citizens are growing increasingly concerned with one problem piling on top of another.
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