Seoul, South Korea – In a groundbreaking decision, the Constitutional Court of South Korea voted to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, following a period of political turmoil initiated by his declaration of martial law. This decision, which was made after the National Assembly’s impeachment vote four months ago, requires South Korea to hold a national election within the next two months to elect a new leader.

The ruling, which was highly anticipated by both supporters and opponents of President Yoon, took place in a nationally televised session on Friday morning. The decision to uphold parliament’s impeachment and oust Yoon calls for the support of at least six out of the eight justices on the court. A removal would necessitate a swift presidential election, while a reversal would reinstate Yoon to his post.

Yoon’s tumultuous declaration of martial law in December lasted a mere six hours before being swiftly overturned by the opposition-controlled legislature. Following this incident, the assembly proceeded to impeach Yoon, leading to his powers being suspended and his case being forwarded to the Constitutional Court. Additionally, Yoon faces a criminal trial for alleged rebellion, adding to the complexity of the situation.

The court’s verdict is expected to deepen existing divisions within South Korea, with experts foreseeing further polarization among citizens. The atmosphere surrounding the court leading up to the decision was tense, with heightened security measures in place to prevent potential violence amidst the gathering crowds of supporters and protesters.

Throughout the impeachment trial, questions arose regarding Yoon’s motivations for deploying troops and police to various government institutions under martial law. While Yoon defended his actions as an attempt to uphold order and expose injustices, senior military and police officials countered his claims, alleging that Yoon had instructed them to detain rival politicians and disrupt legislative processes.

As the country awaits the court’s verdict, Acting Leader Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has urged all parties to respect and adhere to the decision that will be handed down. The outcome of this ruling is anticipated to have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of South Korea, as citizens on both sides of the ideological spectrum anxiously anticipate the court’s decision.