South Korea’s Constitutional Court is set to deliver its long-awaited ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment this Friday, months after his suspension following his declaration of martial law.
Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law on December 3, 2024, by deploying armed soldiers into parliament to subvert civilian rule, triggered political turmoil in the country. Lawmakers resisted the military presence and voted down the measure, leading to Yoon’s impeachment.
However, the ensuing political instability has taken a toll on South Korea’s economy and left the nation in a state of leadership uncertainty, particularly as US President Donald Trump imposes sweeping tariffs targeting the region.
The court held weeks of impeachment hearings to assess whether Yoon should be officially removed from office, followed by a lengthy deliberation period, fueling speculation of deep divisions among the judges.
On Tuesday, the court confirmed that the verdict on Yoon’s impeachment will be delivered on April 4, 2025.
To remove Yoon from office, at least six of the court’s eight justices must vote in favor of impeachment. If confirmed, his removal would trigger elections, which must take place within 60 days.
Throughout this process, hundreds of thousands of South Koreans have staged weekly rallies in Seoul, both supporting and opposing Yoon. The president, a former prosecutor, was arrested in January on charges of insurrection but was released in early March on procedural grounds.
Despite the charges, Yoon has remained defiant, accusing the opposition of orchestrating a “malicious” case against him. He is also the first sitting South Korean president to face trial for criminal charges related to his martial law declaration.
