Could South Korea’s Constitutional Court overturn Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment?

While analysts believe the odds are stacked against Yoon, the court’s decision remains uncertain – and some suggest it may not be clear-cut

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South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said he would “step aside” after parliament voted to remove him from office, urging an end to “politics of excess and confrontation”. Photo: South Korean Presidential Office/AFP

Published: 8:00am, 17 Dec 2024Updated: 9:19am, 17 Dec 2024

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has begun deliberations on President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment over his failed martial law decree, leaving him with slim but not impossible odds of retaining his presidency amid intense legal scrutiny, analysts say.

The National Assembly on Saturday voted to impeach Yoon for his December 3 martial law decree. He is currently suspended from holding office pending the court’s ruling. Deliberations on the case began on Monday.

Yoon has insisted his martial law decree was a legitimate effort to safeguard the country from opposition forces he claimed were conspiring with North Korea. However, he has repeatedly ignored summonses for questioning by investigators.

Prosecutors want to question Yoon over allegations of insurrection and abuse of power tied to the failed decree and the military deployment that obstructed lawmakers from entering the National Assembly.

South Korea’s Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun was arrested following the martial law decree. Photo: Reuters

Pressure on the suspended president has intensified following the arrests and detention of his former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and three high-ranking military commanders – including the heads of the Defence Intelligence Unit, Special Warfare Command, and Defence Intelligence Command – in connection with the incident.