South Korea’s constitutional court on Friday voted unanimously to uphold President Yoon Sak Yeol’s fiasco each for his disastrous declaration of martial law and resigned for violating the constitution.
Yun, 64, was suspended by lawmakers on December 3rd for his attempts to destroy Congressional control. He was also arrested on charges of rebellion as part of another criminal case.
His removal will cause a fresh presidential election that must be held within 60 days.
“Given the serious negative consequences and widespread consequences of respondents’ unconstitutional violations… (we) dismiss respondent President Yoon Sook-yeol,” said President Moon Hyun Bae.
The decision was unanimous by all court judges, who were given additional security protections by police, and tensions were made by parents’ supporters rallied on the streets.
Yun’s actions “violate the core principles of the rule of law and democratic governance, thereby undermining the constitutional order itself and poses a serious threat to the stability of the Democratic Republic,” the judge said in their ruling.
Yoon’s decision to send military soldiers to Congress to prevent lawmakers from overthrowing his orders “violated the political neutrality of the military and the duty of the Commander-in-Chief.”
He deployed the army for “political purposes,” the judge said, which “caused soldiers who served the country on their mission to ensure national security and defend the country facing ordinary citizens.”
“In the end, the respondent’s unconstitutional and illegal activities are betrayal of the people’s trust and constitute a serious violation of the law that is unacceptable in terms of protecting the constitution,” the judge ruled.
Blasts each
Yoon is the second Korean leader to be fired each by the court after Park Geunhye in 2017.
After weeks of tense hearing, the judge spent more than a month deliberating the case.
Police raised alerts to the highest possible level on Friday, allowing for the deployment of their entire force. Officers surrounded the court with vehicle rings and placed special operations teams nearby.
Anti-Yoon protesters cried, cheered and cried as the verdict was announced. Some bouncing and waved each other in joy, while others hugging people and wept.
Outside Yun’s residence, his supporters cried out and made a vow.
Defending his attempts to destroy civilian rule as necessary to eradicate “anti-state forces,” Yoon still orders the support of extreme supporters.
At least two stubborn supporters of Yun (one in his 70s and the other in his 50s) died after moving themselves in protest against the controversial leader’s ammo each.
Embassies, including the US, French, Russian and Chinese, are warning citizens to avoid mass gatherings in connection with Friday’s verdict.
The decision was told by the son of Byunghwan, a professor at George Mason University, to AFP, and it shows that it “shows the resilience of Korean democracy first and foremost.”
“The very fact that the system didn’t collapse suggests that Korean democracy could survive even the worst challenge to it. It’s an attempt at a coup.”
“Very unlikely”
South Korea has spent four months since Yoon declared martial law without an effective head of state. The opposition parties are for him to be resurrected later by court ruling, and he will be resurrected later.
The leadership vacuum came during a series of crises and headwinds, including air disasters and the deadliest wildfires in the country’s history.
This week, South Korea was criticized for 25% tariffs on exports to major US allies after President Donald Trump announced global, so-called mutual collections.
Since December, South Korea has been “partially paralized. There is no legitimate president, and it is being challenged by natural disasters and political disasters called Trump,” said Vladimir Tykonov, a professor of Korean research at the University of Oslo.
Yoon is also facing another criminal trial on charges of a rebellion over martial law bidding.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com.
