讀後心得

On April 4, the Constitutional Court of South Korea announced the impeachment of President 尹錫悅, leading to his removal from office, making him the second president to be impeached after 朴槿惠. Acting President 韓悳洙 signed a state of emergency order to maintain public order and announced that a by-election would be held within 60 days. The Constitutional Court ruled that the martial law declared by 尹錫悅 was unconstitutional and criticized his actions for undermining the people's fundamental political rights. The court's ruling sparked large-scale protests from both supporters and opponents, leading to a tense situation. Supporters of 尹錫悅 were emotionally charged, expressing dissatisfaction with the court's decision, while opponents celebrated. Next, South Korea will hold a by-election for a new president, with an expected date of June 3.

Yoon Suk-yeol did not attend the court ruling. The Constitutional Court of Korea announced at 11 a.m. local time on April 4 that the impeachment case against President Yoon Suk-yeol has been passed, with all eight judges voting unanimously in favor of the impeachment, resulting in Yoon Suk-yeol's removal from the presidency. Media reports indicated that acting president Han Deok-soo immediately signed an emergency order to maintain public order, stating that authorities would ensure safety and prevent a security and diplomatic vacuum in the country. Yoon Suk-yeol becomes the second South Korean president to be removed by the court following former president Park Geun-hye. According to the law, South Korea must hold a by-election within 60 days to elect a new president. Before the ruling, Yoon, through his legal representative, stated that considering public order and safety factors, he would not be present to hear the verdict. The entire ruling process was broadcast live on television, and although this ruling determined Yoon Suk-yeol's political future, it could not quell the unrest caused by his brief imposition of martial law. Currently, thousands of supporters and opponents of Yoon Suk-yeol have taken to the streets of Seoul to protest, causing heightened tensions. To respond to potential conflicts, Seoul deployed over 14,000 riot police, and some nearby schools, shops, and tourist attractions were closed in advance due to the ruling.

After the judges of the Constitutional Court opened the session at 11 a.m. local time, they immediately read out the verdict. The acting president stated that Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law constituted an unconstitutionality. The judges noted that there was no significant national crisis at the time, and the argument raised by Yoon Suk-yeol that opposition party actions caused a severe national crisis could not justify his decision to impose martial law. Their actions exceeded the powers conferred by the constitution, and they did not act in accordance with due process when declaring martial law. The ruling stated that Yoon Suk-yeol's use of the military to impose martial law infringed on the legitimacy of the National Assembly, pointing out that "he failed to fulfill his duties and instead deviated from the people he was supposed to protect." The judges further stated that Yoon Suk-yeol's imposition of martial law "damaged the people's fundamental political rights" and added that this action "violated the principles of the rule of law and democracy." On December 3 of last year, Yoon Suk-yeol briefly declared martial law, which was subsequently lifted within hours. Following that, the opposition passed the impeachment motion, and Yoon Suk-yeol was suspended from office. On December 30, a South Korean court issued an arrest warrant for Yoon Suk-yeol on charges of leading a coup d'état and abusing his power, marking the first time in South Korea's constitutional history that an arrest warrant was issued for a sitting president. The ruling of the Constitutional Court has taken 111 days to reach a conclusion.

Reactions from all sectors were enthusiastic, with a crowd of opponents of Yoon Suk-yeol cheering after the impeachment was announced, embracing each other, and waving flags with an atmosphere similar to that of South Korea's team winning the World Cup. One anti-Yoon activist said, "I can't calm down; this impeachment makes me very happy, but it's very sad that such a decision took so long." Many protesters have participated in demonstrations since December of last year, demanding Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation. Meanwhile, the rally site of Yoon Suk-yeol's supporters was filled with anger and tears, with crowds booing and crying out, as supporters expressed that they found the court's decision "totally unacceptable." Some supporters were shocked and saddened upon hearing the news of Yoon Suk-yeol's removal and quickly packed their belongings and left.

After Yoon Suk-yeol's removal, according to South Korean law, a by-election must be held within 60 days to elect a new president. Analysts predict that this by-election will take place on the final day of the 60-day period, on June 3 of this year. Experts stated that political parties will hope and need as much time as possible to prepare for the campaign. Following Yoon Suk-yeol's removal, the Japanese Prime Minister stated that Japan will prioritize bilateral relations regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election, and Japan-South Korea cooperation will remain Tokyo's "top priority." Additionally, Yoon Suk-yeol has also been prosecuted by the prosecution on charges of leading a coup d'état, with the case scheduled for its first public trial at the Seoul Central District Court on April 14, and Yoon Suk-yeol will lose judicial immunity after his removal.