South Korea: Dismissal of President Under Constitutional Court Lens
It can take months to verify the validity of the parliamentary vote
The South Korean parliament’s vote to impeach the president, Yoon Suk-yeol (pictured), on Saturday, December 14, was only a small first step toward dismissing the rebellious head of state.
On Monday, December 16, in Seoul, the Constitutional Court began the first session to impeach South Korea’s president, authorized after his failed attempt to impose martial law. Based on the Constitution, the Court has 180 days to make a decision: if the impeachment is upheld, the 63-year-old Yoon will become the second South Korean president to be formally stripped of his appointment after Park Geun-hye in 2017.
If the constitutional court upholds the lawmakers’ vote, a presidential election must be held within 60 days of the announcement, with the winner immediately taking office the next day without the usual transition period. During this long phase, lasting a maximum of eight months, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will act as interim president.
