Constitutional Court Upholds Impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol

On April 4, 2025, the Constitutional Court of South Korea unanimously ruled to uphold the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. This decision follows a thorough examination of the legal grounds for the impeachment, particularly focusing on Yoon's declaration of martial law. The court stated that even actions requiring significant political judgment, such as the declaration of martial law, are subject to judicial review to protect constitutional order from violations by high-ranking officials.

The court addressed several key points regarding the impeachment process. It clarified that the National Assembly's decision to proceed with the impeachment without a prior investigation by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee was valid, as the Constitution allows the Assembly to determine its own procedures. Furthermore, the court found that the impeachment motion did not violate the principle of non bis in idem, as it was introduced in a different session than a previous failed motion.

The court also considered the claims that the martial law declaration was necessary due to a perceived crisis caused by the opposition's actions in the National Assembly. However, it concluded that the conditions for declaring martial law, as stipulated in the Constitution and the Martial Law Act, were not met. The court emphasized that political disputes should be resolved through legal and institutional means rather than through military intervention.

In its ruling, the court highlighted that Yoon's actions, including the deployment of military forces to the National Assembly and the prohibition of legislative activities, constituted serious violations of constitutional principles. The court found that these actions undermined the democratic process and infringed upon the rights of citizens.

Ultimately, the court determined that Yoon's violations were severe enough to warrant his removal from office, stating that the benefits of upholding the Constitution outweighed the potential national losses from his impeachment. The ruling was officially announced at 11:22 AM, declaring President Yoon Suk-yeol removed from office.