The South Korean Court eliminates the president accused of the declaration of martial law

Seoul, South Korea – The Constitutional Court of South Korea eliminated Accused President Yoon Suk Yeol From the position on Friday, ending his tumultuous presidency and establishing an election to find a new leader, four months after throwing South Korean politics into an agitation with an unfortunate Marcial Law Declaration.

The unanimous verdict culminated a dramatic fall for Yoon, a former star prosecutor who was a political rookie to president in 2022, only one year after entering politics.

In a televised verdict at the national level, the interim chief of the Court, Moon Hyung-Bae, said the eight members confirmed Yoon’s accusation because his martial law decree seriously violated the Constitution and other laws.

“The defendant not only declared martial law, but also violated the Constitution and laws by mobilizing military and police forces to obstruct the exercise of legislative authority,” said Moon. “Ultimately, the Marcial Law Declaration in this case violated the substantive requirements for the Martial Emergency Law.”

“Given the serious negative impact on the constitutional order and the important effects of the accused’s violations, we find that the benefits of defending the Constitution by eliminating the accused of the position exceed the national losses of the elimination of a president,” the justice concluded.

In an Anti-Yoon demonstration near the old royal palace that dominates the center of Seoul, people exploded in tears and danced when the verdict was announced. Two women cried as they hugged and an old man near them stood up and shouted with joy.

The crowd then began to go through the streets of Seoul. Some people were dressed in beautiful blue bear suits, a protest pet that uses the colors of the opposition.

Outside Yoon’s official residence, thousands of followers cried and shouted when they saw the news of the verdict on a giant television screen. South Korean and US flags stirred and sang slogans.

“We will not be shaken absolutely!” A protest leader shouted on stage. “Anyone who accepts this ruling and prepares for an early presidential election is our enemy.”

Important violence was not immediately reported.

What follows for South Korea?

An election will take place within two months to replace Yoon, but a national gap over Yoon’s political trial will probably continue and could complicate the efforts of South Korea to deal with the “America First” policies of President Trump and North KoreaExpanding ties with Russia, the observers say.

Yoon said in a statement issued through his defense team that deeply regrets not living up to the public’s expectations, but it was not explicitly accepting the verdict. There have been fears of inciting efforts to resist their removal, since he used to fight until the end.

He added that he will pray for the country and his people. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve our nation,” Yoon said.

Yoon’s Power Power ruling party said he would accept the decision, but one of Yoon’s lawyers, Yoon Kap-Kun, described the “completely incomprehensible” ruling and a “pure political decision.”

The prime minister have Duck-Soo, the country’s interim leader, promised a televised speech to ensure that “there are no gaps in national security and diplomacy” and maintain public security and order. Han was appointed Prime Minister, official number 2 of the country, by Yoon.

“Respecting the will of our sovereign people, I will do my best to administer the next presidential elections in accordance with the Constitution and the Law, ensuring a transition without problems to the next administration,” Han said.

The Show Lee Jae-Myung surveys, leader of the main democratic party of the liberal opposition, is the early favorite to win the elections to choose Yoon’s successor. Lee faces corruption trials and other positions.

Lee welcomed the ruling and accredited the South Korean people for “protecting our democratic republic.”

“The courage of the people in front of weapons, swords and tanks, along with the courage of the troops who refused to obey unfair orders, has led to this great revolution of light,” Lee said.

The nation still staggers the brief imposition of martial law

Marcial law lasted only six hours, but left a political crisis, shaking financial markets and disturbing the country’s diplomatic partners. In January, Yoon was arrested separately and accused by prosecutors about alleged rebellion in relation to their decree, a position that entails the death penalty or a life imprisonment if it is convicted.

Under Yoon’s decree, the first of its kind in more than 40 years, hundreds of soldiers were sent to the Assembly, electoral offices and other sites. Special operations soldiers broke windows in the National Assembly and peel with citizens gathered to protest, surprising to South Koreans and evoking traumatic memories of the military government.

Enough legislators, including some of the ruling party, managed to enter the assembly to vote their decree unanimously.

There was no important violence during the brief period of martial law, but some military and police officers sent to the Assembly have testified that Yoon ordered them to drag the legislators to block a vote on their decree or stop their political rivals. Yoon says that the troops were deployed in the assembly simply to maintain order.

Yoon, 64, a conservative, was accused by the Liberal National Assembly controlled by the opposition on December 14. The Assembly accused him of violating the Constitution and other laws by suppressing the activities of the Assembly, trying to stop politicians and undermine peace throughout the country.

In his final testimony at the hearing of the Constitutional Court, Yoon said that his decree was a desperate attempt to attract public support of his fight against the “evil” of the Democratic Party, who had obstructed his agenda, accused the senior officials and cut the draft Government Budget Law. He previously called the National Assembly “a denatal crime” and “anti-state forces.”

Some experts say that Yoon may have imposed the military government to avoid a possible independent investigation into scandals involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee.

Without presidential immunity, Yoon could face other criminal charges, such as abuse of power. He is the first South Korean president to be arrested or accused while in office.

Yoon served as attorney general under his predecessor, Liberal President Moon Jae-in, before joining the ruling party in 2021 after disputes with Moon’s allies. A public and uncompromising public image helped him defeat Lee in the narrow presidential elections of 2022. But after becoming president, Yoon has faced criticism that he refused to replace the officials involved in scandals and vetoed many bills approved by the Assembly.

In:
• South Korea