Former President Yoon Suk Yeol issued his first official message shortly after the Constitutional Court unanimously ruled to remove him from office Friday, bringing an end to his controversial presidency and the monthslong political crisis sparked by his declaration of martial law last December.
In a brief and solemn statement addressed to the public, Yoon expressed both gratitude and regret.
"It was a great honor to serve the Republic of Korea," Yoon said.
"I am deeply thankful to those who supported and believed in me, despite my shortcomings. I sincerely apologize for failing to meet your expectations. I will always pray for the Republic of Korea, which I love, and for its people."
The message, written in a personal tone and signed "Sincerely, Yoon Suk Yeol," was released just hours after the Constitutional Court delivered its historic verdict. It found Yoon had committed a "grave violation of democratic norms and the rule of law" by abruptly declaring martial law on Dec. 3 — a move that plunged the country into weeks of nationwide protests and political turmoil.
The unanimous decision by all eight justices marks only the second time in South Korea’s constitutional history that a sitting president has been removed from office. The ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
While Yoon did not directly reference the court's decision or its reasoning in his statement, his message conveyed a tone of acceptance rather than defiance, signaling an end — at least publicly — to his presidency that lasted just under three years.
It remains unclear whether Yoon will issue a more detailed response or speak publicly about the ruling in the coming days.
jychoi@heraldcorp.com
