South Korea’s Court Begins Impeachment Trial For President Yoon Suk Yeol

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has initiated trial proceedings to determine the fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended after declaring martial law and sparking nationwide political turmoil.

Yoon’s impeachment was approved by MPs last Saturday, following mass protests demanding his resignation. The court has six months to decide whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate him, a decision that will significantly impact the nation’s political future.

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The impeachment has plunged Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) into disarray. Party leader Han Dong-hoon announced his resignation on Monday, citing the impossibility of continuing as party chief in the current crisis.

Public hearings in Yoon’s case are expected to last months, but there is mounting pressure on the court to reach a swift decision to quell political uncertainty. Protesters have vowed to continue demonstrating until Yoon is removed.

Historical precedents for impeachment trials in South Korea provide mixed outcomes: one case was overturned, while another led to removal. In Yoon’s case, the court faces additional challenges, operating with only six of its nine justices due to recent retirements. However, it has affirmed its ability to proceed and has scheduled a preliminary hearing for 27 December.

If the court upholds the impeachment, South Korea must hold new presidential elections within 60 days. In the interim, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is serving as acting president.

Yoon has so far refused to cooperate with prosecutors, ignoring a summons for questioning on Sunday. Authorities may escalate their response with an arrest order if he continues to evade interrogation. Despite the mounting legal and political pressures, Yoon remains defiant, insisting his decision to impose martial law was necessary and pledging to fight the case to the end.

The crisis has deeply divided the PPP, with a faction loyal to Yoon opposing the impeachment. Han Dong-hoon initially sought to manage Yoon’s exit but ultimately endorsed impeachment when Yoon refused to step down voluntarily. The impeachment vote saw 12 PPP lawmakers join opposition MPs, enabling the motion to pass, but most of the party opposed it.