South Korean President Yoon Sak Yeol was expelled by the Constitutional Court on Friday, and was elected after stolen parliamentary ammo for the imposition of martial law, which has caused the nation’s worst political crisis in decades.
According to Reuters, unanimous rise in political turmoil that shattered efforts to deal with President Donald Trump’s administration, at a time when growth slowed Asia’s fourth-largest economy was slowing.
This decision will now begin a race to elect the next president within 60 days, in response to the requirements of the Constitution. Prime Minister Han Dak Saw will remain as the proxy president until the new leader is sworn in.
Liberal Democratic populist leader Lee Jae-myeon, who lost to Yoon in 2022 by a thin razor margin, faces his own legal challenges in multiple trials for corruption. The Conservative Party has a wide open field of candidates.
“The unanimous Constitutional Court decision removed a major cause of uncertainty,” said Professor Raife Eric Easley of EWHA University in Seoul, noting how the next government must navigate challenges such as North Korea’s military threat, China’s diplomatic pressure and Trump’s trade.
Director Moon Han Bae said that Yoon violated his presidential duties in the Declaration of Martial Law on December 3, acting beyond constitutional authority, a “serious challenge to democracy.”
“(Yoon) committed a serious betrayal of people’s trust,” Moon said, adding that the declaration of martial law has created chaos in all areas of society, economy and foreign policy.
Human Rights Watch called domination a victory for the country’s resilience, human rights quest and democratic values.
Thousands of people at the rally called for Yoon to be expelled, chanting “We’ve won!” and erupted into wild cheers upon hearing the ruling.