South Korean court removes impeached President Yoon from office
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Ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a hearing in his impeachment trial at the constitutional court in Seoul, South Korea, in January. Photo: Kim Hong-Ji - Pool/Getty Images
South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has been removed from office over his brief martial law declaration last December that saw troops deployed to the National Assembly.
Why it matters: The South Korean constitutional court's unanimous ruling on Friday morning local time upholding Parliament's impeachment vote means the country must hold a snap election to replace Yoon within 60 days, per Yonyap news agency.
The big picture: Yoon is due to stand trial on insurrection charges in relation to the emergency declaration that sparked massive protests and threw the U.S. ally into political turmoil before he rescinded it.
- He denies any wrongdoing and claimed the declaration was necessary to defend Seoul from "pro-North Korean" elements.
- Yoon is the first sitting president in South Korea to be both arrested and indicted on criminal charges.
State of play: His supporters swarmed the streets of the South Korean capital Seoul and video from the scene showed a heavy police presence as the court's verdict was delivered.
In photos: Yoon impeachment ruling sparks rallies
Go deeper: Yoon becomes South Korea's first sitting president to be indicted
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
