South Korea The Constitutional Court unanimously eliminated Yoon Suk Yeol from Friday, ending its tumultuous presidency and established a new election, four months after it launched the nation in the crisis with a martial law statement.
The verdict was a dramatic fall for Yoon, a former star prosecutor who became president in 2022, just a year after he entered politics.
At a nationally televised audience, the court’s acting head, Moon Hyung-Bae, said that the eight-member bank found that Yoon’s actions were unconstitutional and had a serious impact.
« When declaring martial law in breach of the Constitution and other laws, the defendant returned the story of abusing state emergency decrees, shocked people and caused confusion in society, economics, politics, diplomacy and all other areas, » said Moon.
« Since the negative impact on the constitutional order caused by the violation of the defendant’s laws and their wavy effects are serious, we find that the benefits of defending the Constitution dismissing the defendant far exceeding the national losses of the president’s dismissal, » said justice.
Protesters burst in retirement and penalty
Anti-Yoon protesters near the court burst into tears and danced when the verdict was announced late in the morning. Two women were crying while hugging and an old man near them jumped on his feet and shouted with joy. People left later on the streets of Seoul.
Outside of Yoon’s official residence, many followers cried, shouted, and called journalists when they saw the news of the verdict on a giant television screen. But they quickly cooled down after their organizer requested calm.
« We will not be absolutely shaken! » A protest leader called the stage. « Anyone who accepts this sentence and prepares for an early presidential election is our enemy. »
In the afternoon no major violence was notified.
« Political risks related to domestic polarization and instability of politics are maintained, » said Leif-Ease Easley, a professor at EWHA University in Seoul. « But the unanimous ruling of the Constitutional Court has eliminated a significant source of uncertainty. Korean government institutions have resisted a volatile mix of legislative obstruction and executive overload, which is the greatest challenge for democracy in a generation. »
Korea faces an election with deep divisions
The election will be held within two months for a new president. But a built division on Yoon’s arrest could complicate South Korea’s efforts to deal with crucial issues such as President Donald Trump’s rates and other « first America » policies, according to observers.
Yoon said in a statement issued through his defense team that he is deeply regretted not to live up to the expectations of the public, but the verdict was no longer explicitly accepted. There have been fears that encouraged efforts to withstand his retirement, as he previously pledged to fight to the end.
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He added that he will pray for the country and its people. « It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve our nation, » Yoon said.
The Power of Power of the people of Yoon said he would accept the decision, but one of Yoon’s lawyers, Yoon Kap-Keun, called the « completely incomprehensible » sentence and a « pure political decision. »
The Prime Minister Duck-Soo, the country’s acting leader, pledged to maintain public security and order and ensure a fluid transition to the next administration.
The polls show Lee Jae-Myung, leader of the leading Democratic Party of the Liberal Opposition, is the first favorite to win the next presidential election, although he faces several judgments for corruption and other positions.
« It will be an upward battle for the Conservative Party to win Snap’s presidential election, » said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the center for a new North -American security in Washington. « If Lee wins, South Korea’s foreign policy will probably seem very different from the American countries have enjoyed and with similar ideas during the presidency of Yoon due to the demands of the progressive basis. »
Lee hosted the ruling and credited the southern people -he would « protect our democratic republic ».
The crisis began with a night of chaos four months ago
The martial law lasted only six hours, but left behind a political crisis, dragging financial markets and disturbing diplomatic partners in the country.
After announcing martial law on the night of December 3, Yoon, a conservative, sent hundreds of soldiers to the National Assembly controlled by the liberal opposition, the electoral offices and other places. Special soldier operations broke windows in the assembly and searched the protesters, evoking traumatic memories of the country’s military rules among many south -Coreans.
There are enough legislators, including some of the governing party, they managed to enter the assembly to vote unanimously the Yoon Decree.
Some senior military and police officers sent to the assembly testified that Yoon ordered them to drag legislators to block the vote of their decree or to stop their political rivals. Yoon says troops deployed to the assembly simply to maintain order.
Yoon was prevented by the National Assembly on December 14. The assembly accused him of violating the Constitution and other laws by suppressing the activities of the assembly, trying to detain politicians and undermine peace throughout the country.
In his final testimony to the Constitutional Court’s sight, Yoon said his decree was a desperate attempt to make public support from his fight against the « Democratic Party », which had obstructed his agenda, provoked the maximum officials and reduced the government’s budget bill. Previously, he called the National Assembly « a complaint of criminals » and « anti -aal forces ».
The Constitutional Court ruled Yoon violated by the assembly’s right to demand martial law, the freedom of political party activities and the military’s neutrality. He also said that the political impasse of Yoon with the opposition was not the type of emergency situation required by martial law and that the Yoon decree lacked legal procedures required such as the deliberation of a formal meeting of the cabinet.
Yoon still faces criminal accusations
Yoon has been accused by accusation of rebellion in relation to his decree, a position that has the death sentence or a penalty of life if he is convicted. He became the first southern president -he was arrested or charged while in office.
Yoon was released from prison in March after a Seoul district court canceled his arrest. This allows you to keep the judgment without arrest.
His removal of office also costs Yoon the presidential immunity that protected him from most criminal processes. This means that other criminal accusations, such as abuse of power, could be confronted with its martial law decree, according to some observers.
The associated writer Press Foster Klug contributed to this report.
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