What Happens After the President’s Impeachment Vote in South Korea?

The decision of fires South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol It is a hard blow for the conservative politician. The measure was decided by the South Korean parliament by a wide margin of more than two-thirds of the votes, including twelve votes from representatives of his own party. This could end his five-year term.

What is the process for that decision now?

The Constitutional Court has the final say. The court must confirm this dismissal or reject it within 180 days. If ratified, new elections must be called within 60 days.

This court must investigate whether Yoon violated the constitution when he recently declared martial law. In addition, An investigation is underway on charges of insurrectionwhich is punishable by death. The fact that armed forces were sent to storm Parliament can be taken as evidence in this regard. If Yoon is detained during the impeachment trial, it could influence the Constitutional Court’s decision.

A massive demonstration in central Seoul celebrated his resignation, but there are uncertainties about this process.

The Constitutional Court consists of nine judges, but three of them left their positions last October and their replacements have not yet been appointed. To pronounce a verdict, at least six of the nine justices must support it. In Yoon’s case, the six remaining judges would have to vote in favor of Parliament’s decision to impeach him. That is, if only one of the judges opposes it, the decision cannot be approved.

One of the most likely paths the case will take is that of the Constitutional Court ask Parliament to appoint the three missing judges before deciding in favor of the president’s resignation.