Tue Apr 01 06:58:01 UTC 2025: ## South Korea Awaits Constitutional Court Ruling on Impeached President Yoon

**Seoul, South Korea** – South Korea holds its breath as the Constitutional Court prepares to deliver its verdict on Friday on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The ruling, scheduled for 11 am local time (02:00 GMT) and to be broadcast live, will determine whether Yoon remains in office or is permanently removed.

Yoon, a former prosecutor elected in 2022, faces impeachment stemming from his brief declaration of martial law late last year. He claimed the action was necessary to counter what he perceived as obstructionism from the opposition Democratic Party and its perceived leniency towards North Korea. Although the martial law declaration lasted only six hours and did not result in violence, it sparked widespread criticism, tarnishing South Korea’s democratic image and evoking memories of its authoritarian past.

A six-out-of-eight majority is required among the justices to uphold the impeachment. If successful, a presidential election will be held within 60 days. Otherwise, Yoon, suspended since mid-December, will be immediately reinstated. He also faces separate criminal charges of insurrection related to the martial law decree.

Public opinion heavily favors Yoon’s removal, with a recent Gallup Korea poll showing 60% support for his impeachment. Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, cleared last week of an election law violation that would have barred him from running, is the frontrunner in opinion polls should a snap election be called. The court’s decision follows its recent overturning of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment, reinstating him as acting president. The nation awaits the final decision with bated breath.

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