South Korea’s Constitutional Court will announce its ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment on April 4 at 11 a.m. KST (0200 GMT), with the session to be broadcast live. Yoon was impeached by parliament on December 14 after declaring martial law without clear justification, which lawmakers said violated his constitutional duties.
Yoon, currently suspended, defended his decision as a political warning against the opposition Democratic Party’s dominance in parliament. He claimed it was a move to rally the nation against what he called “anti-state forces” and pro-North Korea sympathizers.
The court, now with eight justices, requires at least six votes to remove a sitting president. The decision is expected to deepen political tensions. While ruling party members have pledged to respect the verdict, they caution that public discord will intensify regardless of the outcome. The opposition Democratic Party remains confident in Yoon’s removal, citing recent legal arguments likening him to a dictator.
Public opinion leans toward impeachment, with a Gallup Korea poll showing 60% of respondents supporting his removal. The won gained strength and the KOSPI rose 1.5% following the ruling date announcement.
If Yoon is removed, South Korea must hold a new presidential election within 60 days. Meanwhile, he faces a separate criminal trial for allegedly leading an insurrection, which carries a possible death sentence—though South Korea has not executed anyone since 1997.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had also been impeached during the crisis, was reinstated by the court on March 24 and resumed his role as acting president.
Yoon’s impeachment trial echoes the 2017 case of former President Park Geun-hye, who was unanimously removed by the court. Tensions remain high as the nation awaits the historic decision.