Key Points
Constitutional Court unanimously votes to impeach President Yoon
Snap presidential election expected by June 3
Democratic Party celebrates court's decision
Martial law declaration deemed unconstitutional
Shortly after the court's verdict was announced, Rep. Cho Seung-rae, the DP's senior spokesperson, made the remarks, expressing deep appreciation to the people for "once again leading the nation through the crisis."
"Today marks a historic day when we defended the Constitution and safeguarded democracy against the forces that sought to destroy it," Cho said.
He urged Yoon and the People Power Party (PPP) to "humbly accept the will of the people and the court's decision" and to sincerely apologize to the nation, Yonhap news agency reported.
"We will continue to serve the will of the people with greater humility and determination," he said.
Earlier in the day the Constitutional Court unanimously upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday, removing him from office over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.
The verdict, which was read by acting court chief Moon Hyung-bae and televised live, took effect immediately, requiring the country to hold a snap presidential election to pick Yoon's successor within 60 days, which many expect to fall on June 3, Yonhap news agency reported.
Yoon was impeached by the opposition-controlled National Assembly in mid-December on charges of violating the Constitution and laws by declaring martial law on December 3, deploying troops to the National Assembly to stop lawmakers from voting down the decree and ordering the arrest of politicians.
Comments:
This is a huge moment for Korean democracy! The court made the right call to protect our constitutional values. So proud of how our institutions held strong against authoritarian tendencies. 🇰🇷
While I agree with the court's decision, I hope this doesn't lead to more political instability. The country needs stability more than ever right now.
The martial law attempt was shocking. How could any leader think that was acceptable in 2023? This decision restores my faith in the system.
I supported Yoon initially, but this was clearly a step too far. However, I hope the opposition doesn't use this as political revenge. The country needs to heal and move forward.
History will remember this day! The people's will prevailed over authoritarianism. Now let's hope the next leader learns from this lesson and governs with more wisdom.
Unanimous decision says it all. No room for interpretation here - this was a clear constitutional violation. Now we need to focus on the election and choose someone who respects democratic norms.
