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Yoon Suk Yeol impeachment ruling as it happened
This live coverage has ended. You can find latest news on Yoon Suk Yeol impeachment here. South Korea's Constitutional Court on Friday removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office in a historic ruling. Yoon tells ruling party leaders: 'Win the next election' 5:00 p.m. The ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol met with People Power Party leaders Friday and told them he hopes the party wins the presidential election to choose his successor. People Power Party leaders Reps. Kwon Young-se and Kweon S
April 4, 2025 -
Tense morning scenes, as S. Korea awaits Yoon's impeachment verdict
Seoul's usually-busy morning scenes in central areas were replaced by a heightened police presence Friday morning, as South Korea awaits the Constitutional Court's 11 a.m. ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Anguk Station of Seoul Subway Line No. 3 is a stone's throw away from the Constitutional Court where the historic ruling will be announced. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, it has been mostly empty except for a few protestors who held all-night demonstrations and a large group of police a
April 4, 2025 -
57% of Koreans want Yoon out: survey
Support for Yoon's dismissal has consistently outnumbered support for his return to office in polls The latest public opinion survey, released just one day before the Constitutional Court's pivotal ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, showed that 57 percent of South Koreans support his removal from office, while 35 percent favor his reinstatement. According to the NBS poll, released Thursday, respondents who believe "the Constitutional Court should uphold the parliament's impeachment
April 4, 2025 -
Impeachment verdict day arrives
Constitutional Court to determine fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol four months after he set off political storm with surprise martial law declaration Exactly 122 days after the surreal night of martial law, South Koreans will finally learn whether Yoon Suk Yeol will continue to serve as their president today. At 11 a.m. in a ruling to be broadcast live on TV, the Constitutional Court will deliver its decision on President Yoon’s impeachment. Yoon’s legal team confirmed Thursday that he will not a
April 4, 2025 -
Ruling party head proposes shortening presidential term if Yoon reinstated
The ruling People Power Party leader Rep. Kwon Young-se said Thursday that the party would push for a constitutional amendment to shorten the presidential term if suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol is reinstated following the Constitutional Court's ruling on his impeachment Friday. "The president himself has said that he would not dwell on his term in office. The party will do our best to craft a Constitution that aligns with the spirit of the times and reflects the will of the people,” Kwon said
April 3, 2025 -
Liberals win big in by-elections for municipal leaders
The People Power Party suffered another set of by-election defeats Wednesday, as the ruling party lost local government leadership positions to the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. The conservative party's interim leader Rep. Kwon Young-se said in a party meeting Thursday that he would "take the election result seriously." Wednesday's elections were the first since President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3. The results suggest that liberal figures are to
April 3, 2025 -
Acting president calls for natl. unity on anniv. of Jeju uprising
Acting President Han Duck-soo called for national unity on Thursday as he marked the anniversary of a civilian uprising on Jeju Island in 1948. Han issued the call during a ceremony commemorating the April 3, 1948, uprising that formed part of a seven-year-long struggle by Jeju islanders against US military-led rule in the wake of Korea's liberation from Japanese occupation. "National cohesion is extremely urgent at this time," the acting president said in a speech from the Jeju 4.3 Peace Park o
April 3, 2025 -
Govt. to hold emergency meeting as US announces 25% reciprocal tariffs on S. Korea
The government is set to hold an emergency meeting Thursday to discuss a response strategy to the US administration's plan to slap 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on South Korean imports, the industry ministry said. In the meeting, Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun is anticipated to meet with officials from various industries, economic organizations and research institutes to discuss the possible impact of new US duties on South Korea's economy. Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump announced
April 3, 2025 -
Acting president calls for all-out response to US announcement of 25% tariffs
Acting President Han Duck-soo instructed the government Thursday to go all-out to respond to the United States' announcement of 25 percent tariffs on imports from South Korea. Han gave the instruction during an "emergency meeting" of the economic and security strategy task force, which brought together Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun and other senior officials from the government. "As the situation is very grave with the approach of the reality of a global tariff w
April 3, 2025 -
Keep calm and respect the ruling: Han calls for stability as rumors, tensions intensify
PM urges politicians to refrain from making comments that could instigate violence Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Wednesday urged politicians to avoid making divisive remarks that could lead to violence on Friday, when the Constitutional Court is scheduled to deliver its ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment. Han’s remark comes amid a deepening partisan rift observed in the National Assembly, coupled with the political turmoil that has gripped the nation since Yoon
April 2, 2025 -
Former acting president faces imminent impeachment threat
A motion to impeach former-acting President Choi Sang-mok was reported at the National Assembly on Wednesday, in the latest move by the main opposition party to hold top officials in the Yoon Suk Yeol administration to account. This would put the fate of Choi, who is also Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, in the hands of the opposition-led National Assembly, which may propose to vote on an impeachment motion against him by no later than Friday afternoon. The main opposition party has a
April 2, 2025 -
By-elections underway for 23 vacant posts
By-elections are taking place in over 20 constituencies nationwide Wednesday. The elections will fill 23 vacant offices, including Busan's education chief and five heads of municipal or county-level local governments. With Friday's Constitutional Court ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment just two days away, the by-election results are widely regarded as a litmus test of voter sentiment in South Korea's polarized political landscape. Polling began at 6 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. Am
April 2, 2025 -
Opposition lawmaker faces loss of parliamentary seat for violating election law
An opposition lawmaker was sentenced to a fine of 7 million won ($4,767) on Wednesday for underreporting his assets during last April's parliamentary elections, a ruling that will strip him of his parliamentary seat if confirmed. The Pyeongtaek branch of the Suwon District Court handed out the fine to Rep. Yi Byeong-jin of the main opposition Democratic Party for violating the Public Official Election Act. The court also ordered the lawmaker to pay 5 million won for violating the Act on Real Nam
April 2, 2025 -
Acting president calls for accepting Yoon's impeachment verdict regardless of outcome
Acting President Han Duck-soo called Wednesday for accepting the Constitutional Court's ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment as the verdict was two days away. Han issued the call during a meeting held to coordinate public safety measures ahead of Friday's ruling on whether to dismiss or reinstate Yoon following his short-lived martial law bid in December. "Regardless of the decision, we must accept the result in a calm and level-headed manner in compliance with the principles of the r
April 2, 2025 -
Ruling party keeps mum on Yoon verdict, opposition urges removal
With the date of the final verdict for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment set for Friday, the ruling People Power Party said it welcomed the Constitutional Court having arrived at a decision. "The impeachment trial of the president is a matter of grave importance that can change the fate of our country and its people. We expect a fair judgment to be made in accordance with the law and conscience," Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the People Power Party floor leader, told reporters Tuesday. Kweon declin
April 1, 2025