The South Korean Constitutional Court is set to announce its decision on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment on Friday. To officially remove him, at least six of the eight justices must uphold the impeachment. If affirmed, a presidential election will occur within 60 days; if not, Yoon will resume his duties. The impeachment stems from his controversial martial law declaration, raised briefly amidst claims of opposition obstructionism and which raised concerns over South Korea's democratic integrity. Yoon, now facing insurrection charges, is uniquely the first sitting president prosecuted.
At least six of the court's eight justices need to uphold Yoon's impeachment to remove him from office. If affirmed, a presidential election will follow within 60 days. Otherwise, Yoon will be reinstated immediately.
Yoon, a former top prosecutor, argued that his short-lived martial law decree aimed to address what he described as obstructionism from the opposition Democratic Party, which he accused of being sympathetic to North Korea.
The martial law declaration, although revoked within hours, tainted South Korea's reputation as a stable democracy and evoked memories of its dictatorial history.
Yoon, facing insurrection charges, has become the first president in South Korea to be prosecuted while still in office, a situation reflecting the tension in current politics.
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