South Korea’s top court unanimously ruled to remove the impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday, ending months of political turmoil and paving the way for the country to elect a new leader. The ruling cleared a deep fissure in South Korea’s polarized politics, which may prove harder to heal. Protesters for and against Mr. Yoon have taken over the streets in Seoul for months.

Following his misjudged declaration of martial law in December and subsequent impeachment by the National Assembly, South Korea must continue without an elected leader before the elections take place. The country faces external challenges, including deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia and global trade upheaval caused by President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs.

The ruling by the Constitutional Court on Friday gave South Korea a sense of direction that was desperately needed. It found Mr. Yoon guilty of violating the constitutional order and betraying the people’s trust when he sent troops to seize the legislature during his short-lived martial law. The ruling was watched by millions of South Koreans, including schoolchildren, on live television.

Mr. Yoon, who defiantly held onto his job despite impeachment, will vacate the presidential residence in central Seoul in the coming days, and the government will schedule a national election. His removal is seen as a victory for South Korean democracy, and the rule of law eventually prevailed without violence. Mr. Yoon thanked his supporters and apologized to the people, but did not comment directly on the court’s ruling.

The conservative camp in South Korea suffered a crushing blow with Mr. Yoon’s ouster, as he was the second conservative president in a row to be ousted by impeachment. The chances of his progressive foes regaining power and reshape South Korea’s foreign policy have increased.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/world/asia/south-korea-removes-impeached-president.html