Yoon Suk Yeol ousted as South Korean president after martial law scandal

The Constitutional Court of South Korea unanimously determined that Yoon Suk Yeol's actions violated the constitution and caused significant harm to the state's order.

Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae stated that the president breached the constitution and other laws, triggering chaos in political, economic, and social spheres.

"By declaring martial law in breach of the constitution and other laws, the defendant brought back the history of abusing state emergency decrees, shocked the people and caused confusion in the society, economy, politics, diplomacy, and all other areas," Moon said.

The situation escalated quickly: on December 3, Yoon declared martial law, which lasted only six hours but left the country in a political crisis. Military units took over the National Assembly building and election offices, reminding many Koreans of past military dictatorships.

The parliament managed to revoke the decree, and a few days later, Yoon Suk Yeol was officially removed from office.

Divided society and upcoming elections

The Constitutional Court’s decision sparked mixed reactions from both supporters and opponents of the ousted president.

In Seoul, anti-Yoon demonstrators celebrated with hugs and dancing, while his supporters expressed anger and frustration. One protest leader stated, "Anyone who accepts this ruling and prepares for an early presidential election is our enemy!"

South Korea is now set to hold an early presidential election within the next two months. The current frontrunner is Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, who welcomed the court's ruling as a victory for the people. Experts believe that Lee’s win could significantly change the country’s foreign policy.

With the loss of presidential immunity, Yoon Suk Yeol now faces potential criminal charges, including an attempted coup and abuse of power.