South Korea’s Constitutional Court will rule this Friday on whether to uphold President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, nearly four months after he was suspended for declaring martial law. The December 3 crisis erupted when Yoon deployed armed soldiers to parliament in a failed attempt to subvert civilian rule, triggering his impeachment by lawmakers and plunging the nation into political turmoil.
The court’s eight justices have deliberated for weeks following extensive hearings, with at least six votes required to permanently remove Yoon from office. If convicted, South Korea must hold new elections within 60 days. The suspended president, who faces separate criminal insurrection charges, has denounced the case as politically motivated, blaming opposition forces for undermining his administration.
Political tensions have escalated as weekly mass protests for and against Yoon flood Seoul’s streets. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung emerges as the likely presidential frontrunner should Yoon be ousted, though his candidacy remains contingent on ongoing legal battles. Last week’s reinstatement of impeached Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as acting president added further complexity to the crisis, though legal experts clarify this ruling doesn’t predict Friday’s outcome.
The verdict arrives amid economic strain exacerbated by U.S. tariff policies and deepening national divisions over constitutional governance. Both ruling and opposition parties have pledged to respect the court’s decision, which will determine whether South Korea faces its first presidential snap election since 2016.
