South Korea's court removes president over martial law controversy

South Korea's top court has officially removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office following his surprise declaration of martial law which triggered a political crisis in the country.

The decision by Constitutional Court on Friday came after parliament voted to impeach him in December, ending his presidency which started in 2022.

Yoon, a former star prosecutor, had leaped from political novice to president in less than a year after he entered politics. Four months ago, however, he plunged South Korea into political turmoil by declaring a controversial martial law in the country.

The eight-member Constitutional Court announced on live television that it upheld Yoon’s impeachment because his martial law decree was a serious violation of South Korean laws.

South Korean president declares martial law to clamp down on 'pro-North Korean' lawmakers

The South Korean president has declared nationwide martial law in a move aimed at clamping down on his "despicable pro-North Korean" political opponents.

The court explained that there was no serious national threat at the time Yoon declared martial law.

“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,” the court’s acting chief Moon Hyung Bae said.

Moon pointed out that Yoon's declaration of martial law decree was a serious violation of the country's laws and “cannot be justified.”

“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 added.

The court concluded that Yoon, as head of the armed forces, not only violated the formal process of declaring martial law, but also committed a “grave betrayal of the people’s trust.”

It noted that since there was no justification for Yoon's behavior, he must be removed from power.

The Constitutional Court's ruling takes effect immediately and sets the stage for a new presidential election in South Korea.

Meantime, South Korea's Prime Minister Han Duck Soo was reinstated by the Constitutional Court as acting president.

Political observers cite the swift rise and fall of Yoon, who was once touted as a key US ally who forged close ties to former US President Joe Biden, as an anomaly.

Yoon's removal had been a hugely divisive issue in South Korea, with mass rallies held by those in favor and those against his removal.

Anti-Yoon demonstrators gathered outside the court to celebrate the announcement, waving flags and dancing to music.

His supporters who had gathered outside the president's official residence in the South Korean capital Seoul demonstrated deep sadness.

To maintain law and order in Seoul, South Korean law enforcement agencies have ramped up security and police issued warnings to the protesters against any sort of violence.

According to reports, there had been an increase in police presence, and barriers and checkpoints had been set up in the capital.

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