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‘Truly sorry’: South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol after court upholds his impeachment
The top court held that Yoon's act went beyond the powers provided in the country's constitution and inflicted “serious damage” to the Republic's stability
South Korea's constitutional court on Friday upheld ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment by Parliament for imposing his short-lived martial law on December 3, which threw the country into a months-long political crisis.
With the court confirming Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will continue to serve as acting president until the new president is inaugurated. According to the South Korean Constitution, the presidential election must occur within 60 days of the apex court's verdict.
The eight-judge bench court upheld Yoon's impeachment in a unanimous verdict, which held that the declaration violated the country's constitution and did not follow due procedures for its rollout.
Yoon “did not merely declare martial law, but went on to commit acts that violated the Constitution and the law, including mobilising military and police forces to obstruct the National Assembly's exercise of its authority,” the court said in its ruling.
“We hereby pronounce the following ruling, with the unanimous agreement of all Justices. (We) dismiss respondent President Yoon Suk Yeol,” acting chief justice Moon Hyung-bae said.
The court also held that Yoon's act went beyond the powers provided in the country's constitution and inflicted “serious damage” to the Republic's stability.
The bench also observed that it was difficult to see the conduct of the opposition parties as a necessary ground to declare the imposition of martial law. Yoon had alleged that the opposition Democratic Party was abusing its parliamentary majority, necessitating martial law to root out “anti-state” elements.
Reacting to the court's ruling, Yoon apologised to the country in a brief statement. “I am truly sorry and heartbroken that I was unable to meet your expectations,” he said.
Yoon's People Power Party said it accepts the court's ruling. “It is regrettable, but the People Power Party solemnly accepts and humbly respects the Constitutional Court's decision. We extend our sincere apology to the people,” lawmaker Kwon Young-se said.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, among the frontrunners ahead of the election, hailed the court's verdict. Yoon, “who destroyed the Constitution and threatened the people and democracy with the guns and knives entrusted to him by the people, has been dismissed,” he said.
Following Yoon's imposition of martial law, the lawmakers defied the security forces' blockade to enter the parliament and voted to reject the move. Yoon countered, saying he never intended to fully impose an emergency military rule and claimed that none were hurt during the altercation.
Months of protests triggered by political chaos have overshadowed the country's efforts to address economic growth amid Donald Trump's ascent to the presidency and his decision to provoke a trade war, Reuters reported.
Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested on January 15 on insurrection charges, but he was released after a court cancelled his arrest warrant.
