In a monumental decision that will reverberate for years through the political panorama of South Korea, the Constitutional Court has unanimously ruled to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol from the office, marking the official end of its presidency at 11:22 on April 4, 2025.
The Court, including eight judges, found Yoon guilty of violating the Constitution through its declaration of martial law and subsequent actions that have been considered a overcoming of the presidential authority. The supreme judge of acting Moon Hyung Bae issued the verdict, stating that Yoon had “betrayed the public trust” by failing in his duty to unify the nation and instead mobilizing military and police forces to repress the constitutional institutions, including the national assembly.
“As president of all citizens, the interviewee has failed to transcend its political base and unify the broadest society. Its deployment of armed forces to undermine the national assembly and break civil freedoms constitutes a serious violation of the constitutional order”, “. Judge Moon said during the live sentence.
The Court stressed that the gravity and amplitude of the unconstitutional actions of Yoon justified the removal, despite the national interruption this decision could cause. “The constitutional damage caused by the conduct of the defendant far exceeds the potential loss from his removal”, The sentence declared.
This verdict follows months of public protests, political conflicts and a highly examined impeachment process triggered by the controversial order of the martial law of Yoon in December 2024. The unanimous decision 8-0 is particularly remarkable, reflecting a rare moment of complete judicial consent in a politically accused case.
According to the South Korean law, a presidential election must now be held within 60 days to elect Yoon’s successor. The nation now enters a transition period, with Prime Minister Han Duk Soo who plans to serve as an interim president to the elections.
The removal of Yoon Suk Yeol marks only the second time that a South Korean president was accused and ousted by the Constitutional Court, following the 2017 dismissal of Park Geun-Hye. The sentence is seen not only as a legal verdict, but as a reaffirmation of the controls and democratic sales in the Constitutional System of South Korea.
The eyes of the nation – and the world – now turn to how South Korea will sail with this unprecedented political chapter.
