South Korea Removes President Yoon Suk Yeol from Office Following Unanimous Impeachment Ruling

Impeached South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol at an earlier hearing in Seoul

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has unanimously voted to remove suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, upholding the National Assembly’s decision to impeach him over his controversial declaration of martial law in December. The court’s decision, reached after weeks of deliberation, marks a significant moment in South Korean democratic history, as all eight justices concluded that Yoon had violated the constitutional powers entrusted to the presidency.

Acting President Han Duck-soo will remain in office until a new leader is elected within 60 days. In a public address, Han vowed to maintain national stability and manage the upcoming election with integrity. “Respecting the will of our sovereign people, I will do my utmost to manage the next presidential election in accordance with the constitution and the law, ensuring a smooth transition to the next administration,” he said.

People react after hearing the news that President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, April 4, 2025

In a written message following his removal, Yoon expressed regret and gratitude to the citizens, calling it “a great honour” to serve. “I deeply thank all of you who have supported and encouraged me despite my many shortcomings,” he wrote. “I am very sorry and regretful that I could not live up to your expectations. I will always pray for our beloved Republic of Korea and its citizens.”

While many anti-Yoon demonstrators celebrated the ruling with emotion and relief, tensions rose outside the court as reports emerged of Yoon supporters damaging police vehicles. The Constitutional Court’s acting chief justice, Moon Hyung-bae, delivered the decision live on national television, stating, “We hereby pronounce the following ruling, with the unanimous agreement of all Justices: (We) dismiss respondent President Yoon Suk Yeol.”

Moon said Yoon had gravely violated his constitutional duties, noting that the declaration of martial law represented a direct challenge to the democratic order. “(Yoon) committed a grave betrayal of the trust of the people, who are the sovereign members of the democratic republic,” he said. “The defendant not only declared martial law, but also violated the constitution and laws by mobilizing military and police forces to obstruct the exercise of legislative authority.”

According to the court, the martial law declaration had a deeply destabilizing effect across society, the economy, and foreign relations. Moon added, “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.”

Yoon, who did not attend the court session, is barred from appealing the decision. He now faces a separate criminal trial on charges of insurrection related to the martial law order. If found guilty, he could face life imprisonment or the death penalty, although no executions have been carried out in South Korea since the late 1990s.

People shout slogans during a rally calling for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down near the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, April 4, 2025.

Yoon’s ruling party stated it would “solemnly accept” the court’s ruling. “It is regrettable, but the People Power party solemnly accepts and humbly respects the constitutional court’s decision,” said lawmaker Kwon Young-se. “We extend our sincere apologies to the people.”

However, Yoon’s lawyer, Yoon Kap-keun, criticized the ruling as “completely incomprehensible” and labeled it a “purely political decision.”

The December declaration of martial law had sparked deep national divisions and concern from international allies. Yoon claimed he acted to prevent “anti-state” opposition groups, allegedly sympathetic to North Korea, from undermining national security. The National Assembly, controlled by the opposition, moved swiftly to impeach him just two weeks later after security forces attempted—but failed—to prevent lawmakers from convening to vote down the edict. Martial law was lifted after just six hours.

Yoon has argued that he never intended to fully implement military rule and has emphasized that no deaths or injuries occurred. Despite his explanations, public sentiment shifted decisively against him, with a recent poll showing 60% of South Koreans in favor of his permanent removal.

Yoon now becomes the second South Korean president to be removed through impeachment, following Park Geun-hye in 2017.