On Friday, South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously removed Yoon Suk Yeol from office four months after he threw the nation into turmoil by declaring martial law. The court’s verdict capped a dramatic fall for Yoon and ended his stormy presidency. It also triggers an election for a new president.
Yoon announced martial law on the night of December 3. He sent hundreds of soldiers to the opposition-controlled National Assembly, election offices, and other sites. Soldiers smashed windows at the assembly and scuffled with protesters. The actions evoked bad memories of the country’s past military rule for many South Koreans.
Martial law lasted only six hours. Enough lawmakers managed to enter the assembly to vote down the decree unanimously. But the event left behind a political crisis, rattled financial markets, and unsettled the country’s diplomatic partners.
The National Assembly impeached Yoon on December 14 over the issue. Assembly members accused him of violating the constitution and other laws.
During Friday’s televised hearing, the Constitutional Court agreed. It found Yoon’s actions unconstitutional. The eight-member court bench found “that the benefits of upholding the constitution . . . far outweigh the national losses from the dismissal of the president,” acting chief Moon Hyung-bae concluded.
The court indicted Yoon on charges of rebellion in connection with his decree. It ruled that Yoon’s standoff with the opposition wasn’t the type of emergency situation that required martial law.
The rebellion charge carries the death penalty or a life sentence if convicted. Moon became the first South Korean president to be arrested or indicted while in office.
Yoon was released from jail in March. His removal from office costs him the immunity that protected him from most criminal charges. Some observers say he could face other charges, such as abuse of power, in connection with his martial law decree.
Anti-Yoon protesters near the court erupted into tears and danced at the verdict. Two women wept as they hugged, and an old man leapt to his feet and screamed with joy. The crowd later marched through Seoul streets.
Outside Yoon’s official residence, many supporters cried, screamed, and yelled at journalists when they saw news of the verdict on a giant TV screen. But they quickly cooled down after their organizer pleaded for calm.
“We will absolutely not be shaken!” a protest leader shouted. “Anyone who accepts this ruling and prepares for an early presidential election is our enemy.”
An election will be held within two months for a new president.
Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, says the risk of turmoil remains. Still, he believes “the Constitutional Court’s unanimous ruling has removed a major source of uncertainty.”
Surveys show Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main liberal opposition party, is the early favorite to win the upcoming election. He also faces several trials for corruption and other charges.
During the trial, Yoon claimed his decree was a desperate attempt to draw public support for his fight against the “wickedness” of the opposition party. He claimed the party had obstructed his agenda, impeached top officials, and slashed the government’s budget bill.
Yoon says he deeply regrets failing to live up to the public’s expectations. He says he will pray for the country and its people. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve our nation,” Yoon says.
He stops short of accepting the court’s verdict outright. Some fear he may incite efforts to resist his removal. Yoon’s ruling People Power Party says it will accept the decision. But one of Yoon’s lawyers, Yoon Kap-keun, calls the ruling a “pure political decision.”
The Lord . . . rules over the nations. — Psalm 22:28
