South Korea’s Constitutional Court has dismissed President Yoon Suk-yeol from office, paving the way for a presidential election to be held within the next 60 days.
The court delivered its verdict on Friday (4 April), ruling that Yoon’s imposition of martial law in December last year had violated the rights of the public.
According to a report by Al Jazeera, the court found the former president guilty of infringing constitutional liberties through his actions.
Yoon had declared martial law briefly on the evening of 3 December 2024, alleging a subversive threat to the state and infiltration of the government by pro-North Korean forces.
However, the court noted that the move was politically motivated.
Senior military and police officials testified that Yoon had instructed them to shut down the National Assembly in order to prevent lawmakers from voting to overturn the martial law decree.
He had also allegedly ordered the arrest of political opponents under the guise of maintaining national security.
The South Korean National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon in mid-December 2024, effectively suspending him from office. The Constitutional Court’s ruling now formalises his removal.
The country must now prepare for a fresh presidential election, to be conducted within the constitutionally mandated 60-day period.
