South Korea’s Top Court to Decide on President Yoon’s Future on April 4
South Korea’s highest court will announce on April 4 whether President Yoon Suk Yeol will lose his job permanently or be allowed to return to power.
The Constitutional Court, which has been reviewing his impeachment, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday. According to Reuters, the decision will be announced at 11 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) and will be broadcast live.
Reuters reports that Yoon was suspended from office on December 14 after lawmakers voted to remove him. The reason? They accused him of breaking the law by declaring martial law without a strong reason.
Martial law is a strict emergency rule that gives the military more power. Yoon, however, insists he never planned to fully enforce military rule. Instead, he says he only wanted to warn people about the opposition party’s actions, which he believes are harming the country.
The long wait for the court’s decision has divided South Koreans, as Reuters explains. Supporters of Yoon are demanding his return, while his opponents say he must be removed to protect the country’s democracy.
Reuters also highlights that large crowds have gathered in the streets for protests both for and against him, with police preparing for possible violence once the ruling is announced.
According to Reuters, if the court votes to remove Yoon, South Korea must hold a new presidential election within 60 days. For Yoon to be removed, at least six of the eight judges must agree. In 2017, a similar impeachment case led to the removal of former President Park Geun-hye.
Reuters further reports that Yoon is also facing a criminal trial for allegedly trying to overthrow the government. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to life in prison or even the death penalty—although South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997.
This case is not just about one leader, but about the future of South Korea’s democracy. Whether Yoon stays or goes, the country is experiencing one of its most intense political crises in years.
Many eyes are on the Constitutional Court, and Reuters suggests that whatever the decision, it will have a lasting impact on the nation’s leadership and stability.
Credit: Reuters