[Impeachment of President Yoon]
Unanimous ‘Approval’ by 8 Judges, with Constitutional and Legal Violations Recognized
President Yoon Suk-yeol was removed from office 123 days after declaring martial law on December 3, marking him as the second president in South Korean history to be impeached.
The Constitutional Court held an impeachment ruling session at 11 a.m. on the 4th of April in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the court approved the impeachment motion against President Yoon. Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyeong-bae announced at 11:22 a.m. that “President Yoon Suk-yeol is dismissed from office.”
All eight judges unanimously decided on President Yoon’s removal. The court cited severe constitutional and legal violations by President Yoon as grounds warranting his dismissal, thus supporting the National Assembly’s impeachment motion. The court also confirmed there were no procedural issues, such as double jeopardy, in this impeachment process.
The court assessed major issues individually. Notably, Yoon’s attempt to control the National Assembly using military and police forces was criticized as violating the constitution by restricting parliamentary members’ access and rights while infringing upon lawmakers’ immunity. Additionally, it was deemed an infringement on political activities’ freedom and a misuse of military forces for political purposes, breaching the National Constitution.
President Yoon had declared martial law on December 3, citing an imminent national crisis due to continuous impeachments by the opposition and severe budget cuts for key government projects, which paralyzed state affairs. Key issues scrutinized during the impeachment included attempts to seize control of the National Assembly using military and police, raiding and attempting to control the Central Election Management Committee, directing arrests of politicians and prominent figures, the legality of Proclamation No. 1, and the procedures surrounding the December 3 martial law declaration. President Yoon’s defense argued against allegations of ordering arrests of politicians, stating the deployment of military and police to the Assembly was for maintaining order, and involvement with the election committee aimed at verifying election fraud allegations.
With this impeachment, South Korea faces intensified political turmoil once again. Following President Yoon’s removal, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will assume the role of Acting President, with a by-election required within 60 days. As an early presidential election becomes inevitable, both ruling and opposition parties are expected to engage in fierce competition for political dominance.