Seoul: The Constitutional Court is expected to determine the fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol around mid-March as it concluded hearings on his impeachment trial. The trial was initiated due to his brief imposition of martial law, which occurred on December 3 following a vote by the National Assembly to impeach him.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the court completed 11 rounds of trials over a span of 73 days. The eight justices are set to deliberate and vote on the matter in private. For the impeachment to be upheld, at least six justices must vote in favor. The court currently operates with a nine-member panel but has one vacancy. Legal experts predict a verdict within two weeks, considering the gravity of the case and historical precedents of presidential impeachment trials.
The central issue of the trial is whether Yoon's martial law declaration contravened the Constitution and legal statutes. The impeachment motion accuses him of implementing martial law without a national emergency and bypassing necessary procedures, including Cabinet consultation and parliamentary notification. Yoon defended his actions as a governance strategy aimed at cautioning the opposition against its repeated impeachments of officials and budgetary cuts.
Should Yoon be removed from office, a snap election must occur within 60 days. Conversely, if the impeachment is dismissed, he will promptly resume his presidential duties. Yoon has expressed intentions to focus on constitutional amendments and political reforms to foster a well-functioning nation if reinstated. He also plans to prioritize foreign affairs and delegate domestic responsibilities to the prime minister.
Currently, Choi Sang-mok is fulfilling the caretaker role after the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on December 27. The stakes remain high, with Yoon's martial law attempt contributing to ongoing political instability amid significant economic and security challenges. Public opinion has largely favored the impeachment, though Yoon's supporters have actively protested against it.
Yoon is the third South Korean president in two decades to face impeachment. Previous cases involved late President Roh Moo-hyun, who was reinstated after impeachment in 2004, and former President Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in 2017 for corruption and abuse of power.