By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-04-04 02:31:37 | Updated at 2025-04-04 20:30:05
18 hours ago
South Korea’s Constitutional Court formally removed president Yoon Suk-yeol from office on Friday, months after he was impeached by lawmakers over his disastrous declaration of martial law that plunged the country into political chaos.
Yoon’s ill-fated December 3 bid to subvert civilian rule lasted just six hours before lawmakers voted it down. They later impeached him, stripping him of his duties.
The move evoked painful memories of South Korea’s military-backed rulers who used martial law and emergency decrees to suppress opponents in the 1960-1980s.
Seoul must hold a fresh presidential election within 60 days of the ruling, which marked the end of a chapter in one of the most turbulent political episodes in the country’s recent history.
Polls indicate that Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, would be the front runner in a snap election. Last week, the Seoul High Court acquitted Lee of making false claims in 2021 while campaigning for the presidency, potentially boosting his chances in a coming race.
The court held weeks of impeachment hearings to determine whether to officially remove Yoon from office, followed by an extended period of deliberation on the case.
