• Yoon apologizes, expresses ‘deep regret not being able to live up to your hopes and expectations’
• Election commission invites prospective candidates for fresh presidential elections likely to be held in early June

ISTANBUL

South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously decided Friday to remove impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his bid to impose martial law on Dec. 3.

The eight justices found that Yoon's declaration of martial law "did not meet the legal requirement for a national crisis."

🇰🇷South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously decided to remove impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his bid to impose martial law on Dec. 3

🪧 Hundreds of demonstrators against South Korean President celebrate after court's verdict https://t.co/r2MzjdNFWq ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Hz8UPZJTsk

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Yoon did not attend court in person to hear the final verdict.

The court added that Yoon violated the law by sending troops to parliament to stop the reversal of martial law.

Yoon was impeached by parliament on Dec. 14 after he declared martial law on the night of Dec. 3, triggering a political crisis in the country.

The president deployed troops to parliament to stop lawmakers from holding a special session to overturn his decision.

But the lawmakers managed to enter the parliament building, where they passed a motion and forced Yoon to rescind his order in the early hours of Dec. 4.

Later, several members of Yoon’s People Power Party joined the opposition ranks to impeach the president, who was elected in 2022.

At least 200 votes in the 300-seat parliament are needed to impeach an elected president. The opposition needed at least eight votes from Yoon’s party.

In January, he was arrested and indicted for abuse of power and leading an insurrection, making him the first sitting president to be kept in custody. He was also subject to a travel ban.

However, the court released him from prison last month.

Yoon was first detained on Jan. 15 and formally arrested on Jan. 19 in a widening probe into the botched martial law decree, which he defended. He was indicted on Jan. 26 but was later released after 52 days in custody.

The top court declared that Yoon's impeachment was "not an abuse of the National Assembly's right to prosecute."

It also rejected claims by Yoon’s defense team that the crisis had occurred due to repeated impeachment motions by the opposition-dominated parliament or due to suspicions of alleged election fraud.

"The negative effects on the constitutional order and the repercussions from the defendant's violations of the law are grave, making the benefits of protecting the Constitution by dismissing the defendant larger than the national losses from dismissing the president by an overwhelming degree," the top court said.

Yoon had claimed to root out "anti-state forces" when he declared martial law four months ago.

He now faces charges of insurrection as well as abuse of office.

He will have to vacate the presidential residence in Yongsan District in central Seoul soon.

Officials have lowered the presidential flag from the official residence of Yoon.

The top court declared that Yoon, as president, "has violated his duty to unite the social community beyond the people who support him."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is currently serving as acting president.

Yoon ‘apologizes’

Reacting to the court ruling, Yoon, now former president, issued an apology and said he was "sorry for not being able to meet public expectations."

"I deeply regret not being able to live up to your hopes and expectations," Yoon said, according to Yonhap.

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve our nation. I am sincerely grateful for your unwavering support and encouragement, even when I fell short," he added.

Almost all the presidential staff has resigned.

Polls within two months

South Korea’s ruling People Power Party said it "humbly accepts" the top court's decision, while the main opposition Democratic Party said the verdict was a "victory of the people."

The verdict, read by acting court chief Moon Hyung-bae, was streamed live and the court delivered the ruling within 22 minutes.

Following the top court’s order, South Korea’s election commission invited candidates to file for fresh presidential elections which are likely to be held early June.

Yoon would have completed his five-year term in 2027.

Urging unity among the political class, acting President Han said "I will do my best to oversee the administration of the upcoming presidential election so that the new government can take office."

"We will maintain a firm security posture to ensure there are no gaps in national defense. We will do our utmost to prevent any disruptions in areas such as trade and defense, uphold public order, and remain fully prepared for all kinds of disasters," he said.

Han also called for a "watertight readiness" posture against possible provocations allegedly by North Korea.

Main opposition Democratic Party leader and top presidential front-runner Lee Jae-myung lauded the soldiers "who did not fully engage" when martial law was declared and forces were deployed to parliament, adding their action "led this great revolution today."

"We will pursue a path for growth and development that moves toward a world where all Korean citizens live in a safe and peaceful country," he added.

"I sincerely respect and thank the people for leading the light revolution and protecting the great democratic republic," he said.

Several South Korean military officials have been removed from office over the failed martial law bid.

Ahead of the verdict, thousands of police were deployed to ensure peace in the capital, where hundreds of supporters and opponents are holding rallies.

There are reports that one of Yoon’s supporters smashed the windows of a police bus.

*Islamuddin Sajid in Islamabad contributed to this story