South Korea's Constitutional Court Removes President Yoon Sukyeol, Calls for Early Elections
The Constitutional Court of South Korea has made a historic ruling, unanimously approving the dismissal of President Yoon Sukyeol following his controversial declaration of martial law. This decisive action mandates that the nation must conduct early presidential elections within a maximum period of 60 days.
The ruling stemmed from a motion initiated by the National Assembly after Yoon's martial law declaration on December 3. Following a lengthy suspension from his duties for over 100 days, the court found that Yoon's actions constituted a serious violation of the Constitution. Notably, the court emphasized that his deployment of military forces to Parliament, aimed at preventing legislators from overturning his decree, was unjustified and illegal.
Acting as the president of the court, Moon Hyungbae articulated the court’s unanimous decision during the verdict announcement, stressing that the political crisis in the National Assembly did not merit the use of national emergency powers. "The situation at that time did not justify the exercise of national emergency powers," he stated, revealing the gravity of Yoon's infraction against constitutional provisions.
The court's verdict is immediate and irrevocable, marking the official removal of Yoon from office. The legal ruling highlights Yoon's infringement upon legislative functions and the rights of lawmakers, asserting that his actions violated their ability to deliberate and vote, as well as compromised their parliamentary immunity.
Moreover, the court condemned Yoon's use of armed forces for political ends, citing it as a significant breach of military neutrality and a failure in his duties as commander-in-chief.
This ruling comes amid escalating social and political polarization within the nation. Public sentiment has been largely in favor of Yoon's dismissal, with polls indicating approximately 60% support for the decision. In the wake of the ruling, the main opposition party heralded it as a victory for the people, while the ruling party expressed a humble acceptance of the court's verdict.
In response to the court's decision, Interim President Han Ducksoo has pledged to facilitate a seamless transition of power in the lead-up to the elections. He assured that all critical government functions, particularly in national security and foreign policy, would remain unaffected during this interim period, as the South Korean government braces for a new leader in the coming weeks.
With the countdown to the elections now officially underway, South Korea stands at a pivotal moment in its democratic process, as citizens prepare to choose a new president and guide their country towards a more stable political future.
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