South Korea’s constitutional court on Friday removed him from his office four months after his short-lived martial law imposition on December 3, supporting President Yoon Sook Yeol’s bluff each.
Protesters who had been demanding his expulsion erupted in cheers at the ruling, waving flags and pumping fists in the air. In the weeks leading up to the verdict, hundreds of thousands of people protesting and protesting Yoon lined up the streets of Seoul, often enduring freezing temperatures, rain and snow.
At 11am local time, Chief Justice Moon Hyunba began reading the ruling that came after months of deliberation. About 22 minutes later, he announced that all eight judges in the court had voted to have Mr. Yun take office. The current president “betrayed the people’s trust” and “strickenly violated the law,” Moon said.
The court’s decision is immediately valid and cannot be appealed. Yoon’s People Power Party says he “humbled” accepts the Constitutional Court’s ruling.
Why did Mr. Yoon get each bullet?
Later on December 3, Yoon surprised the country when he declared martial law, but lasted just six hours as lawmakers voted to overturn it. Shortly after making the announcement on live television, the military stormed the parliamentary building, and military leaders later testified that they had been sent by the president to prevent lawmakers from voting. A crowd of civilians stood up to the army, and some lawmakers reduced the fence and entered the assembly to vote.
On Friday, Judge Moon said Yun’s martial law order did not meet the constitutional requirements of the national crisis. Yoon reiterated.
Judge Moon said that Yoon had failed in his duties as the state commander, and that subsequent lifting of martial law did not reduce the extent of gravity. The Munition Each case was procedurally sound, he said. Only six of the eight members of the bench had to vote in favor to support the blast each, but the decision was unanimous.
What happens next?
Foreman Han Duck Thor will continue his role until the country elects a new president through the snap election. This must be done within 60 days of Friday. That means the latest early June. The National Election Commission is expected to announce the date in the coming days.
Political parties select candidates through primary elections.
Lee Jae Myung is the expected frontline to lead the opposition Democratic Party. He has been Yoon’s political rival since his last presidential election in 2022, when he lost to the former president with less than 1% of the vote. Lee is at the helm of political push to remove the president who is currently speaking out.
It is not very clear who will come out in front of the race and lead the ruler’s power party. Its former leader Han Dong Hoon resigned in December after opposing both Yoon and his party on the issue of martial law.
Seoul mayor Sehoon and Great Eg mayor Hong Jun Pyeong are others proposed as potential candidates.
