South Korean President removed from office as opposition leader tipped as replacement

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been formally removed from office after the Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment on Friday.

The impeachment stems from a controversial decision made by Yoon on December 3, when he imposed martial law during a dispute over the national budget with opposition parties. The move, which caused widespread unrest, ultimately led to his impeachment by parliament.

Yoon defended his actions, claiming the opposition was undermining the state and was infiltrated by communists, although no evidence was presented to support these accusations.

The Constitutional Court unanimously agreed that the imposition of martial law was unjustified, stating there was no national crisis to warrant such an extreme measure. Furthermore, the court ruled that Yoon’s deployment of military personnel to the National Assembly to prevent the lifting of martial law was unlawful.

Acting court chief, Moon Hyung Bae, read the court’s decision in a live broadcast.

“The negative effects on the constitutional order and the consequences of the defendant’s violations are severe. The benefits of removing him from office far outweigh the potential losses to the nation,” Moon stated.

In a statement released shortly after the ruling, Yoon expressed regret for not fulfilling the public’s expectations. “I deeply regret not being able to live up to your hopes and expectations,” Yoon said, according to Yonhap news agency. “It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve our nation. I am sincerely grateful for your unwavering support and encouragement, even when I fell short.”

Yoon’s political party, the People Power Party, accepted the court’s decision, while the opposition Democratic Party hailed it as a “victory for the people,” Yonhap reported.

With the impeachment upheld, South Korea will be required to hold fresh elections within the next 60 days. In the interim, Prime Minister Han Duck Soo will serve as acting president.

According to recent polls, opposition leader Lee Jae Myung is the early favourite to become the next president. He narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election.

Ahead of the ruling, the area around the court was cordoned off. More than 14,000 police officers were deployed in central Seoul to prevent violent riots.

For Yoon, the legal battles are not over, despite the latest verdict.

He is expected to stand trial on insurrection charges over his imposition of martial law.

If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence.