South Korea’s impeached president removed from office
Baku, April 4, AZERTAC
South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously decided Friday to remove impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his bid to impose martial law on Dec. 3, Anadolu Agency reported.
The eight justices found that Yoon's declaration of martial law “did not meet the legal requirement for a national crisis.”
Yoon did not attend court in person to hear the final verdict.
The court added that Yoon violated the law by sending troops to parliament to stop the reversal of martial law.
Yoon was impeached by parliament on Dec. 14 after he declared martial law on the night of Dec. 3, triggering a political crisis in the country.
The president deployed troops to parliament to stop lawmakers from holding a special session to overturn his decision.
But the lawmakers managed to enter the parliament building, where they passed a motion and forced Yoon to rescind his order in the early hours of Dec. 4.
Later, several members of Yoon’s People Power Party joined opposition ranks to impeach the president, who was elected in 2022.
At least 200 votes in the 300-seat parliament are needed to impeach an elected president. The opposition needed at least eight votes from Yoon’s party.
In January, he was arrested and indicted for abuse of power and leading an insurrection, making him the first sitting president to be kept in custody. He was also subject to a travel ban.
However, the court released him from prison last month.
Yoon was first detained on Jan. 15 and formally arrested on Jan. 19 in a widening probe into the botched martial law decree, which he defended. He was indicted on Jan. 26 but was later released after 52 days in custody.
The top court declared that Yoon's impeachment was “not an abuse of the National Assembly's right to prosecute.”
It also rejected claims by Yoon’s defense team that the crisis had occurred due to repeated impeachment motions by the opposition-dominated parliament or due to suspicions of alleged election fraud.
“The negative effects on the constitutional order and the repercussions from the defendant's violations of the law are grave, making the benefits of protecting the Constitution by dismissing the defendant larger than the national losses from dismissing the president by an overwhelming degree,” the top court said.
Yoon faces charges of insurrection as well as abuse of office.
He will have to vacate the presidential residence in Yongsan District in central Seoul soon.
The top court declared that Yoon, as president, "has violated his duty to unite the social community beyond the people who support him."
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is currently serving as acting president.
South Korea’s ruling People Power Party said it "humbly accepts" the top court's decision, while the main opposition Democratic Party said the verdict was a "victory of the people."
The verdict, read by acting court chief Moon Hyung-bae, was streamed live and the court delivered the ruling within 22 minutes.
Since Yoon was removed from office, presidential elections are due within two months and are likely to be held by early June.
Yoon would have completed his five-year term in 2027.
Urging unity among the political class, acting President Han said “I will do my best to oversee the administration of the upcoming presidential election so that the new government can take office.”
“We will maintain a firm security posture to ensure there are no gaps in national defense. We will do our utmost to prevent any disruptions in areas such as trade and defense, uphold public order, and remain fully prepared for all kinds of disasters,” he said.
Main opposition Democratic Party leader and top presidential front-runner Lee Jae-myung lauded the soldiers “who did not fully engage" when martial law was declared and forces were deployed to parliament, adding their action "led this great revolution today.”
"We will pursue a path for growth and development that moves toward a world where all Korean citizens live in a safe and peaceful country," he added.
“I sincerely respect and thank the people for leading the light revolution and protecting the great democratic republic," he said.
Several South Korean military officials have been removed from office over the failed martial law bid.
Ahead of the verdict, thousands of police were deployed to ensure peace in the capital, where hundreds of supporters and opponents are holding rallies.
There are reports that Yoon’s supporters smashed windows of police bus.
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