讀後心得

On April 4, the Constitutional Court of South Korea ruled to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol, with all eight judges unanimously agreeing and announcing that the ruling would take immediate effect. The court pointed out that Yoon Suk-yeol mobilized military and police to infringe upon the functions of the National Assembly and basic human rights, and declared a state of emergency without it being necessary, violating constitutional obligations. This ruling has sparked strong reactions from specific political parties and the public, with both supporters and opponents expressing their emotions. According to the law, South Korea must hold a new presidential election within 60 days, and the current Prime Minister will temporarily oversee government affairs. It is known that opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is maintaining a lead in the election, but he also faces legal challenges.

The Constitutional Court of South Korea announced the ruling for the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol at 11:22 AM on Friday (April 4). Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-pae stated that all eight judges who participated in the impeachment vote agreed to the removal, and that the ruling took effect "immediately" after its announcement. Yoon Suk-yeol did not attend this ruling. Moon Hyung-pae pointed out during the announcement that Yoon Suk-yeol "mobilized military and police to undermine constitutional institutions like the National Assembly, infringing upon the basic human rights of the people, and violated his obligation to uphold the constitution," emphasizing that he declared martial law under circumstances where the nation was not in a state of emergency, which clearly contravened constitutional requirements.

Moon Hyung-pae stated, "(Yoon Suk-yeol) severely betrayed the trust of the people as members of a democratic republic," noting that his actions exceeded the powers granted by the constitution, violated presidential responsibilities, posed a serious challenge to democracy, and led to chaos in various aspects, such as social, economic, and foreign policies. In an emergency address on December 3, 2024, Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law under the pretext of "eliminating pro-North Korean forces and maintaining a free constitutional order," provoking a fierce backlash from the National Assembly and the public, with citizens in Seoul taking to the streets to protest, leading to an emergency vote in the National Assembly to overturn the presidential martial law decree. Ultimately, under pressure, Yoon Suk-yeol announced the lifting of martial law just hours after its implementation.

The ruling noted that Yoon Suk-yeol attempted to expel National Assembly members from the legislative chamber on the night of the martial law, obstructing decisions to lift the martial law, and through the military's counter-espionage unit arrested several politicians and lawyers, which were also considered reasonable grounds for impeachment. Additionally, the court rejected Yoon Suk-yeol's claim that "the emergency martial law was of a warning nature," stating that this contradicted the purpose of martial law defined in the Martial Law Act.

In response to Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, South Korea's largest opposition party, the "Democratic Party," stated that Yoon Suk-yeol and his party "should humbly accept the Constitutional Court's ruling, sincerely reflect and apologize to the public, and immediately cease actions that provoke division and confrontation, and should not become an obstacle to the country's rebuilding." The ruling party, "People Power," also expressed acceptance of the result following the ruling, believing that respecting the Constitutional Court's decision is a way to uphold democracy and the rule of law, and called on the public to avoid violence or extreme actions.

After the announcement of Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, many citizens who were watching the court's broadcast reacted with excitement, applauding and cheering, with some even crying tears of joy. A 42-year-old man said, "I really waited a long time... I hope the next president can normalize the country as soon as possible." In contrast, a 68-year-old man questioned the unanimous opinion of the eight judges, believing it seemed like something a communist party would do. Supporters of Yoon Suk-yeol also gathered in the streets, showing a mix of sadness and anger, with some even arrested for smashing police cars in protest against the ruling.

What will happen next? According to legal provisions, South Korea must hold a new presidential election within 60 days. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will continue to serve as acting president until the new president is officially inaugurated. Taking the case of Park Geun-hye's impeachment in 2017 as an example, the Constitutional Court ruled to impeach her on March 9, and the presidential election was held on May 9. Polls indicate that Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition party who narrowly lost to Yoon Suk-yeol in the 2022 presidential election, is maintaining a lead in the early election, but he also faces multiple legal issues. He was previously convicted of violating the Public Official Election Act, but was acquitted in a second trial this January, temporarily maintaining his eligibility for the election. However, South Korean prosecutors have stated they will appeal this ruling.