讀後心得

On April 4, the Constitutional Court of South Korea announced the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, with all eight judges agreeing to the decision, which took immediate effect. The court stated that Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law in a non-emergency situation and used military force to intervene in the National Assembly, violating human rights, breaching his presidential duties, and posing a challenge to democracy. The ruling sparked cheers from the public, while pro-Yoon groups expressed sadness and anger. According to the law, South Korea must hold a new presidential election within 60 days, and Han Duck-soo will temporarily serve as acting president. Currently, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is leading in the polls but faces legal challenges.

The Constitutional Court of South Korea announced the judgment to impeach Yoon Suk-yeol at 11:22 AM on April 4. The acting president of the Constitutional Court stated that all eight judges who participated in the impeachment vote agreed to the impeachment and that the ruling took effect immediately after it was read. Yoon Suk-yeol himself did not attend the ruling. The president noted that Yoon Suk-yeol, through the mobilization of military and police, undermined constitutional institutions like the National Assembly, violating the basic human rights of the people and breaching the duty to uphold the constitution. The president mentioned that Yoon Suk-yeol declared a state of emergency without the nation being in an emergency state, which contradicts constitutional requirements.

He pointed out that "Yoon Suk-yeol seriously betrayed the trust of the people as a democratic republic," and his actions exceeded the powers granted by the constitution, violating his responsibilities as president, posing a serious challenge to democracy, and leading to chaos in social, economic, and diplomatic policies.

On the evening of December 3, 2024, Yoon Suk-yeol announced the implementation of a state of emergency, citing "the eradication of pro-North Korean forces and the maintenance of free constitutional order," which immediately sparked fierce backlash from both the National Assembly and the public. People in Seoul took to the streets in protest, and the National Assembly urgently voted to overturn the president's emergency decree. Ultimately, after facing pressure, Yoon Suk-yeol lifted the state of emergency within hours of its announcement.

The court's ruling pointed out that on the night of the emergency declaration, Yoon Suk-yeol attempted to expel National Assembly members from the chamber to prevent the repeal of the emergency declaration, while also using military counterintelligence units to arrest several political figures and lawyers. These actions were recognized by the judges as grounds for impeachment. Additionally, the court rejected Yoon Suk-yeol's claim that the "emergency declaration was of a warning nature," deeming the claim to violate the purposes defined by the Emergency Law.

Regarding Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, the largest opposition party, the "Democratic Party," stated that he and his party should humbly accept the Constitutional Court's ruling, sincerely reflect upon it, and apologize to the people, while immediately ceasing actions that incite division and confrontation, to avoid becoming an obstacle to national reconstruction. The ruling party, the "People Power Party," expressed its acceptance of the ruling after it was announced, believing that respecting the Constitutional Court's decision is a way to defend democracy and the rule of law, while calling on the public to avoid violence or extreme behavior.

As the news of Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment was announced, many people cheered and clapped in front of the courthouse, chanting, "We won," "It's over," and "Yoon Suk-yeol has been dismissed," with some even crying tears of joy. A 42-year-old man stated, "I really waited a long time, hoping the next president can restore normalcy to the country." However, a 68-year-old man questioned the consensus of the eight judges, asking, "Aren't they communists?" More than ten thousand supporters of Yoon Suk-yeol were on the streets grieving, and one man was arrested for breaking a police car window in frustration over the ruling.

How the situation will develop next is uncertain. According to legal regulations, South Korea must hold a new presidential election within 60 days to elect a new president. The Prime Minister will continue to serve as acting president until the new president is inaugurated. For instance, when Park Geun-hye was impeached in 2017, the Constitutional Court ruled for impeachment on March 9, and the presidential election took place on May 9. Current polls indicate that the opposition party leader who narrowly lost to Yoon Suk-yeol in the 2022 presidential election maintains a leading position in the early election, with no strong challengers emerging. However, that leader also faces multiple legal issues and scandals, having been convicted of violating public office election laws, but was acquitted on appeal, temporarily preserving his eligibility to run. Nevertheless, the prosecution has announced its intention to appeal this decision.