South Korean president removed from office four months after declaring martial law

South Korea’s Constitutional Court on Friday removed impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, four months after he declared martial law, sending the East Asian country into turmoil. 

The court issued its verdict more than three months after the opposition-controlled National Assembly voted to impeach him. 

South Korea must hold a national election within two months to find a new president. Surveys show Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, is the early favorite to become the country’s next president.

Yoon’s declaration on Dec. 3 lasted only six hours before the liberal opposition-controlled legislature quickly voted it down. 

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The president had sent hundreds of soldiers and police officers to the National Assembly. He argued that he was trying to maintain order, but senior military and police officers sent there later told hearings and investigators that Yoon ordered them to drag out lawmakers to prevent an assembly vote on his decree.

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Though short-lived, Yoon’s declaration and the subsequent impeachment plunged the country into political turmoil, with millions taking to the streets to denounce or support him. 

The National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon on Dec. 14, accusing him of violating the constitution and other laws by suppressing assembly activities, attempting to detain politicians, and undermining peace across the country.

In a nationally televised verdict, the court’s acting chief, Moon Hyung-bae, said the eight-member bench upheld Yoon’s impeachment because his martial law decree violated the constitution and other laws.

“Given the grave negative impact on constitutional order and the significant ripple effects of the defendant’s violations, we find that the benefits of upholding the constitution by removing the defendant from office far outweigh the national losses from the removal of a president,” Moon said.

Yoon didn’t immediately respond to the verdict, but his ruling People Power Party said it would accept the decision.