The country’s top court has upheld a parliamentary impeachment, paving the way for a new presidential election
The Constitutional Court of South Korea on Friday formally ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his controversial decision to impose martial law late last year.
The unanimous verdict upheld parliament’s decision to impeach the president, which plunged the country into political chaos.
Yoon declared emergency martial law on December 3 last year, claiming the country’s opposition was plotting a “rebellion” and accusing his opponents of sympathizing with North Korea. The order, however, flopped and was promptly overruled by the parliament, with the backing of the military. He was impeached in mid-December and arrested on January 15.
The court dismissed all of Yoon’s attempts to justify his actions, ruling that the president had overstepped his authority through “unlawful and unconstitutional” conduct.
“The defendant mobilized military and police forces to dismantle the authority of constitutional institutions and infringed upon the fundamental rights of the people. In doing so, he abandoned his constitutional duty to uphold the constitution and gravely betrayed the trust of the Korean people,” acting chief justice Moon Hyung-bae stated.
“The negative consequences and ripple effects of these actions are substantial, and the benefit of restoring constitutional order through removal from office outweighs the national costs associated with the dismissal of a sitting president,” the judge added.
Yoon accepted the court’s verdict, who said it had been a “great honor” to work in his role and expressed gratitude to his supporters who backed him despite his “many shortcomings.”
Yoon’s arrest triggered a new wave of violent unrest, with his supporters storming the Seoul Western District Court. The ousted leader was ultimately indicted for leading an insurrection, one of the charges for which a South Korean president does not have immunity. If convicted, Yoon could face life imprisonment or capital punishment.
According to South Korean laws, a new president must be chosen within 60-days. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will act as an interim president until a new leader is sworn in.
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