On Dec. 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol grabbed the attention of the whole world; he had declared, ambiguously and without ostensible reason, martial law. Such an extreme action received a perverse reaction from South Korean citizens, many of whom called for his impeachment in the South Korean Congress. After 11 days, his impeachment finally passed the National Assembly, which had voted on impeachment a week earlier but fell five votes short of the 200 required. 

Since then, Yoon has had to wait, suspended from his position, until the South Korean Constitutional Court votes as to whether or not to impeach and thus remove him from office. That decision could take almost six months, as they don’t have any real deadline until 180 days from his impeachment. In his place stands Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who took office when the previous acting president, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, was impeached shortly after taking office.

The Constitutional Court, comprising nine judges, will need a six member majority to impeach and remove Yoon. Four judges on the court were appointed by him, and there is a vacancy on the court that will soon be appointed by Choi and confirmed by the ruling and opposition parties. If the court does obtain a six-vote majority in affirmation of an impeachment, then Yoon will be removed from office and there will be a new election, which will have to see a definitive election within 60 days of the decision. If the court rules in favor of Yoon, then he will be reinstated as president.

Article by Basil Dracobly