South Korean Court ousts Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, elections to follow

South Korea’s top court has officially removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office after upholding his impeachment over a controversial martial law declaration.

The unanimous ruling, delivered on Friday, marks the end of Yoon’s presidency and sets the stage for fresh elections within 60 days.

Yoon, 64, was initially suspended by lawmakers after deploying armed soldiers to parliament on December 3 in an attempt to bypass civilian rule. He was later arrested on insurrection charges in a separate criminal case. Millions of Koreans watched the court’s decision live, with the country’s main messaging app, KakaoTalk, experiencing disruptions due to high traffic.

“Given the serious negative impact and far-reaching consequences of the respondent’s constitutional violations… (We) dismiss respondent President Yoon Suk Yeol,” stated acting court President Moon Hyung-bae.

Following the ruling, security was heightened around the court as some of Yoon’s supporters expressed outrage, threatening the judges. The court ruled that Yoon’s actions violated democratic principles and the political neutrality of the armed forces. “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,” the judges declared.

Opposition lawmakers welcomed the verdict with applause, calling it “historic,” while Yoon’s party members left the courtroom in silence. Yoon later issued a brief statement apologizing for failing to meet the people’s expectations.

This ruling makes Yoon the second South Korean leader to be impeached, following Park Geun-hye’s removal in 2017. The country has faced months of political instability, with security alerts raised to the highest level. Crowds of anti-Yoon protesters erupted in celebration upon hearing the verdict, while some of his supporters reacted with tears and anger.

Despite his impeachment, Yoon still commands a loyal following, with at least two of his supporters having died by self-immolation in protest. However, experts believe the court’s decision reaffirms South Korea’s democratic resilience. “The very fact that the system did not collapse suggests that Korean democracy can survive even the worst challenge against it—a coup attempt,” said Byunghwan Son, a professor at George Mason University.

Following Yoon’s removal, portraits of him were taken down from military offices in line with regulations requiring the country’s commander-in-chief’s photo to be displayed. Meanwhile, South Korea faces significant economic and diplomatic challenges, including trade tensions with the United States.

Acting President Han Duck-soo will oversee affairs until a new leader is elected. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik emphasized that the ruling reinforces the principle that “no one in the Republic of Korea can be above the law.”