Friday, the Constitutional Court of South Korea confirmed Friday the dismissal of President Yoon Suk Yeol, withdrawing him from his functions four months after his short -term tax of martial law on December 3.
The demonstrators who demanded his eviction broke out in acclaim to the decision, waving flags and pumping their fists in the air. For weeks preceding the decision, hundreds of thousands of protesting people for and against Mr. Yoon bordered the streets of Seoul, often icy temperatures, rain and snow.
At 11 am, the local time, the acting chief of the court, Moon Hyungba, began to read the decision, which came after months of deliberation. Some 22 minutes later, he announced that the eight court judges had voted to withdraw Mr. Yoon from his duties. The ex-president now “betrayed people’s confidence” and “seriously violated the law,” said Moon.
“It was a great honor for me to work for the country,” said Mr. Yoon in a statement published through his lawyers. “Me and regrettable and sorry not to be able to meet your expectations.”
The court’s decision is in force immediately and cannot be brought in appeal.
Why was Mr. Yoon to indulge?
At the end of December 3, Mr. Yoon amazed the country when he declared martial law, but that only lasted six hours because the legislators quickly voted to overthrow him.
Shortly after having made this announcement on television live, the troops stormed the building of the National Assembly under the order to “decompose the door and drag” the legislators gathering inside to vote in the decree of the martial law and arrest key personalities, including the soil president. Crowds of citizens have confronted the troops, and some legislators have set up fences to enter the assembly and vote.
In the same evening, Mr. Yoon also sent troops to the National Electoral Commission which tried to seek and confiscate his database. This violated the independence guaranteed by the constitution of the agency, judged the court.
Decision, judge Moon said that Mr. Yoon had abused his duties as commander -in -chief of the nation. The decree of martial law has not satisfied the constitutional requirement of a national crisis which, on several occasions, said on several occasions one of the reasons for which he had made the extraordinary declaration.
The judges said that Mr. Yoon had precipitated his idea for imposing a martial law by a hastily cabinet meeting on the night of December 3. Without appropriate deliberation, and that he did not inform the National Assembly, as required by law.
Only six of the eight members on the bench were to vote in favor to maintain the dismissal, but the decision was unanimous.
What will happen next?
The acting president, Han Duck-Soo, will continue in his role until the nation elects a new president through an early election. This must take place within 60 days from Friday, which means in early June at the latest. The National Electoral Commission should announce the date in the coming days.
Political parties will select their candidates through primary elections.
Lee Jae-Myung is the leading front to lead the Democratic Party of the opposition. He is the political rival of Yoon since the last presidential elections in 2022 when he lost against the former president by less than 1% of the votes. Lee was at the head of the political push to withdraw the president now impatient.
It is less clear that will come out in front of the race to direct the party of power of people in power. His former chief, Han Dong-Hoon, resigned in December after disagreement with Mr. Yoon and his party on the question of martial law.
Oh Se-Hoon, the mayor of Seoul, and Hong Joon-Pyo, the mayor of Daegu, are others who have been suggested as potential candidates.
