South Korean Removes President Yoon Over Martial Law Decree

South Korean Removes President Yoon Over Martial Law Decree.
Judges say actions betrayed people’s trust, rule of law.
New elections to be held within 60 days, security heightened.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office in a unanimous and historic ruling, citing his unlawful attempt to impose martial law and deploy armed soldiers to suppress legislative authority.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the decision, broadcast live on Friday, April 4, has triggered both jubilant celebration and heightened political tension nationwide.

Yoon, 64, was first suspended by lawmakers after his December 3 attempt to derail civilian control by ordering armed troops to the National Assembly, in what critics have called an unconstitutional bid to force through his decree. He now also faces separate criminal charges for insurrection.

Acting court president Moon Hyung-bae, delivering the verdict, stated: “Considering the severe negative repercussions and extensive implications of the respondent’s constitutional breaches… (We) hereby dismiss respondent President Yoon Suk Yeol.”

Millions of South Koreans watched the ruling live. The country’s largest messaging app, KakaoTalk, temporarily slowed down due to a traffic surge. Outside the courthouse in Seoul, emotions ran high as anti-Yoon protesters cried, hugged, and chanted in celebration after the announcement.

“We cried tears and shouted that we, the citizens, had won,” said Kim Min-ji, a 25-year-old protester who stood among the crowd.

Yoon’s deployment of soldiers to physically prevent lawmakers from voting against his martial law order was a core issue in the court’s decision. Judges ruled that the action “violated the political neutrality of the armed forces” and “contravened the fundamental principles of the rule of law and democratic governance.”

“In the end, the respondent’s unconstitutional and illegal acts are a betrayal of the people’s trust and constitute a serious violation of the law that cannot be tolerated,” the panel declared.

With the ruling, South Korea must now hold fresh presidential elections within 60 days. Authorities are expected to announce the new election date shortly.

Tensions outside the court also ran high as some of Yoon’s supporters made threats against the judges. Police responded by deploying special operations teams and surrounding the courthouse with vehicles to enforce maximum security.

Yoon, in a brief post-verdict statement, expressed regret: “I apologise for failing to meet the people’s expectations.”

He now becomes the second South Korean president to be removed by impeachment, following Park Geun-hye’s dismissal in 2017. The court deliberated for over a month after a series of intense public hearings and mounting nationwide unrest.

As lawmakers from Yoon’s party exited the courtroom in silence, opposition lawmakers erupted in applause, calling the ruling “a historic moment for democracy.”