South Korea’s Constitutional Court Begins Impeachment Trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol
South Korea’s Constitutional Court convened its first hearing on Tuesday to deliberate the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his controversial martial law declaration last month. However, the session was adjourned within four minutes due to Yoon’s absence. A second hearing, scheduled for Thursday, is set to proceed regardless of whether the suspended president attends.
The trial marks a critical moment in South Korea’s political history as the nation grapples with its most significant political crisis in decades.
A Nation Divided: Protests and Political Tensions
President Yoon, a former prosecutor-turned-politician, was suspended from office after his abrupt imposition of martial law sparked public outrage and mass protests. Since then, he has remained secluded in his residence, guarded by the Presidential Security Service (PSS), while his staunch conservative supporters have vowed to shield him from detention.
Supporters fear that attending the impeachment hearings could lead to Yoon’s arrest. Meanwhile, rival protesters, braving freezing temperatures, have gathered outside his residence, demanding accountability and justice.
How the Constitutional Court System Works
The Constitutional Court has prioritized the impeachment case and must decide within 180 days whether to uphold or overturn the impeachment vote.
According to South Korea’s constitution, at least six out of nine justices must approve the impeachment for it to stand. However, the court currently operates with only eight justices due to delays in filling a vacancy left by a retired justice. Acting President Choi recently appointed two justices with parliamentary approval, and the remaining vacancy is expected to be addressed later this month.
Should the court uphold the impeachment, Yoon would make history as South Korea’s shortest-serving president in the democratic era. In such an event, the country would need to hold new presidential elections within 60 days, further intensifying the political turmoil.
The impeachment trial has polarized the nation, with Yoon’s supporters and detractors locked in a battle over his controversial leadership. As the Constitutional Court deliberates, the case will likely shape the political landscape of South Korea for years to come.
