South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives for his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, on Jan.
Kim Hong-ji | Reuters
South Korea’s Constitutional Court Friday upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, ousting him from office.
The decision now starts a 60-day countdown where a presidential election must be held to select the next president. In the interim, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been reinstated as acting president following a decision by the constitutional court on March 24.
Yoon was impeached over his imposition of martial law on Dec. 3 in a surprise late-night broadcast, citing the need to protect the country from “North Korean communist forces” and “anti-state forces.” This was the first time martial law was declared in South Korea in over 40 years.
Lawmakers then voted down the decree at the country’s parliament, hours after the martial law declaration, before filing impeachment motions against Yoon a few days later. Yoon was impeached on Dec. 14 and suspended from office.
This is a breaking news story. Please refresh for updates.
