Court removes President Yoon Suk Yeol over Dec. 3 martial law in unanimous 22-minute ruling

As of 11:22 AM on Friday, the Constitutional Court of Korea officially ousted now former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law declaration, which the court judged as unconstitutional.

Our Oh Soo-young reports.

"The current time is 11:22 AM.

Ruling: President Yoon Suk Yeol is hereby removed from office."

Four months after President Yoon Suk Yeol's December 3rd martial law,. the Constitutional Court on Friday issued a unanimous decision to oust the nation's leader, immediately stripping him of his presidency.

All eight members of the bench decided to uphold the National Assembly's motion to remove Yoon from power, declaring his martial law declaration on December third last year a grave violation of the Constitution and democratic principles, and a betrayal of public trust.

Beginning at 11 AM, Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae delivered the collective decision,

and reasoning, which showed the full bench upheld all five grounds for impeachment presented by the Assembly on how Yoon's martial law had disrupted the country's constitutional order.

Yoon had made the unprecedented effort of defending himself in his impeachment trial alongside his lawyers.

He argued that martial law had been his executive right under the Constitution, which allows the measure to be triggered in times of national emergency, with the need to maintain public order.

Yoon had cited the opposition-led National Assembly's legislative abuse, budget cuts, and excessive impeachment motions against his administration as amounting to a state of national emergency.

He also raised concerns of election fraud and concluded that he'd declared martial law as a warning or appeal to the nation.

The Court rejected Yoon's arguments as unacceptable and insufficient.

"By declaring martial law in violation of the Constitution and relevant laws, the respondent re-enacted the historical abuse of emergency powers, throwing citizens into a state of shock and causing disruption across all areas of society, economy, politics, and diplomacy."

The Court found there to be no genuine emergency nor severe disruption of public order to justify Yoon's imposition of the controversial measure.

While acknowledging intense political tensions and the opposition's impeachment motions, the Court stressed that Yoon had the democratic tools to resolve political disputes without unconstitutional actions.

Also, Yoon's martial law did not meet procedural requirements, as he did not sufficiently consult the Cabinet, nor did he notify parliament about his martial law proclamation.

Second, the bench said Yoon deployed military and police forces illegally to obstruct the National Assembly, infringing on lawmakers’ constitutional rights and undermining democratic governance.

Third, Yoon's martial law proclamation banned political activities, infringing citizens' basic rights.

Also, the former president ordered unwarranted searches of the National Election Commission, breaching its independence.

Fifth, Yoon infringed upon judicial independence by attempting to locate former senior judges for potential arrest.

The ruling comes 111 days after the court case began, with the National Assembly's impeachment vote.

11 trial hearings, and 16 witness testimonies were held.

The deliberation took a record 38일, three times longer than previous presidential impeachment cases.

Yoon is now South Korea's second elected leader to be ousted by impeachment, after former President Park Geun-hye was removed from office in 2017.

A historic day of reckoning for South Korean democracy --the verdict stresses presidential accountability and the urgent need for bipartisan compromise in a deeply divided political climate.

As one chapter closes, South Korea moves forward, still testing and reinforcing the strength of its democratic foundations.

Oh Sooyoung, Arirang News.