South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office after finding his December 2024 declaration of martial law unconstitutional. The court determined that Yoon had gravely violated the Constitution by deploying military forces to the National Assembly in an attempt to suppress parliamentary functions and detain political rivals.
Yoon’s martial law decree, which lasted for just six hours, saw soldiers deployed to the opposition-controlled National Assembly, with orders to detain lawmakers and block a vote. The National Assembly swiftly impeached Yoon in December, and the Constitutional Court upheld the decision, condemning his use of military force to suppress opposition. The court found that Yoon’s declaration lacked legal justification and due process, and that it violated basic rights and the separation of powers.
Yoon, now stripped of presidential privileges and facing insurrection charges, issued a statement expressing regret but stopped short of accepting full responsibility. His impeachment marks the first time a sitting South Korean president has been removed and indicted while in office. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo now serves as acting president until elections are held within 60 days.
