South Korea's Yoon impeachment trial concludes; what happens next
What's the story
The Constitutional Court of South Korea has wrapped up the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol after his controversial declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024.
The court's eight judges will now deliberate behind closed doors to determine whether to uphold the parliamentary vote that removed Yoon from office.
The verdict is expected by mid-March.
Trial focus
Yoon's impeachment: A constitutional violation or national alert?
The impeachment trial mainly focused on whether Yoon's martial law declaration was unconstitutional.
His lawyer Kim Hong-il defended the move, saying it was an attempt to "alert the public to the national crisis" created by the opposition party.
However, critics see it as an unwarranted move.
Outside the court, pro-Yoon supporters protested against his impeachment, alleging foreign electoral interference.
Public sentiment
Public opinion divided over Yoon's impeachment
Public opinion on Yoon's impeachment is divided. A Realmeter poll showed 52% support his removal, while a Gallup poll indicated 60% favor his impeachment.
Yoon also faces a police case for obstructing his arrest. He delayed compliance with an arrest warrant issued on December 31.
His lawyers argue that this arrest was politically motivated and flawed in its execution.
Election prospects
Potential presidential election and legal predictions
If Yoon is ousted, South Korea will have to conduct a presidential election within 60 days.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung currently leads in the polls but faces legal challenges, such as being convicted for corruption and violating election laws, that could impact his candidacy.
Legal experts predict a unanimous ruling in favor of impeachment due to Yoon's actions undermining constitutional principles.
If not impeached, Yoon would continue facing criminal trials as president, which experts deem inappropriate.
Precedent
Past cases of impeachments
Some hints about how long it might take are provided by past cases.
The Constitutional Court reinstated the late president, Roh Moo-hyun, after he was impeached by parliament after a 14-day period.
In the instance of former president Park Geun-hye, who was ousted from power in 2017 due to a corruption scandal, it just took 11 days.
Both presidents got their verdicts on Friday, which led local media to wonder whether the trend would apply for Yoon.