This Friday, South Korea’s Constitutional Court will decide if President Yoon Suk Yeol should be ousted from office after his attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. The ruling requires the support of at least six of the eight judges and comes after months of political problems in the country. Yoon had sent soldiers to parliament to enforce his policies, but lawmakers rejected his "coup" and voted for his impeachment. This has led to protests and economic strain.
If the court upholds his impeachment, there will be new elections within 60 days. Opposition leader Lee Jae Myung, who recently had an election law violation cleared, is a leading candidate. However, his chances could be dashed if the courts decide to bring back his conviction. Public opinion is quite polarized, with large weekly rallies in Seoul showcasing both support for and opposition to Yoon’s ousting.
Yoon, who was briefly detained earlier this year over insurrection charges, says he did nothing wrong and believes his political opponents are out to get him. Legal experts say that his actions violated constitutional rules, while his party is calling for respect towards the court’s decision in an effort to bring the country together.
Recently, the courts reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as the acting president after overturning his impeachment. Although this decision doesn’t directly impact Yoon’s situation.