Its Constitutional Court South Korea is holding its first meeting today to consider the validity and timing of the impeachment process against the country’s President Yoon Sok-gel, who was suspended by parliament over his failed attempt to impose martial law.

On Saturday, members of the South Korean national delegation approved a resolution to remove from power Mr. Yun, who has already effectively ceased, punishing him for declaring martial law on the night of December 3-4, which was revoked just six hours later.

The president, once a star prosecutor, shocked the Asian country by unexpectedly declaring martial law and sending in the army to silence parliament, before he was forced to backpedal six hours later, choked by parliament and thousands of protesters. .

“The first meeting to consider the impeachment resolution (of President Yun) began at 10:00 (local time; 03:00 Greek time), a representative of the Constitutional Court confirmed to AFP .

Typically, the Constitutional Court has about six months to decide whether the decision is valid. If he ratifies it, Mr. Yun will be deposed and early presidential elections will be called within two months. The winner will be sworn in the following day, without the usual transition period.

During this process, which will last a maximum of eight months, Prime Minister Han Duk-soo will serve as interim president. In his first statements after taking over as interim head of state, the latter pledged to do everything possible to guarantee “stable governance”.

Court President Moon Hyung-ba promised a “swift and fair” process after the parliamentary vote.

According to most experts, there is no doubt as to what the decision of the country’s top judicial institution will be, as the violations of the Constitution and the laws accused of Mr. They are blatant and obvious.

The Constitutional Court normally has nine members, but three retired in October and were not replaced because of the political impasse in South Korea. Six votes are needed to ratify the impeachment of the head of state, thus a unanimous verdict.

The leader of the main opposition Lee Jae-myung said yesterday that a quick decision by the court is “the only” way to end the political crisis and ease “what the people are enduring”.

A star of South Korean politics embroiled in cases that may deprive him of the right to be elected head of state, Mr. Lee is still the favorite according to analysts if new presidential elections are held. In 2022, he lost to Mr. Yun, the margin was the smallest in South Korea’s history.

Mr. Lee was found guilty in November of violating election laws, but on probation. If sentenced to prison, he would no longer be eligible to run for president.

However, if he were elected before such a decision was made, the prosecution against him would be stopped, due to presidential immunity.

On the other hand, Mr. Yun is facing a criminal investigation for “sedition,” an offense that in theory carries the death penalty, and has been banned from leaving the country.

The ousted president, 63 years old, with popularity among the Tartars, “refused” yesterday to appear before justice and the prosecutors announced that he will be served with a new, second summons.

If his ouster is confirmed, he would become the country’s second president to be formally removed from office since Park Geun-hye in 2017.

In the case of Park, who fell due to a corruption case, the Constitutional Court upheld the parliament’s decision 92 days later.

There is, however, a case in which this did not happen. In March 2004 members of the House also adopted a motion to impeach President Roh Moo-hyun, but this was ruled invalid two months later by the Constitutional Court.

North Korea, reacting rather cautiously after the political crisis erupted in South Korea, today described Yun Seok-gil as a “rebellion leader” in Seoul, via the official KCNA news agency. As usual, he also called the outgoing president a “puppet” of Washington, as Pyongyang sees Seoul as being under the US boot.

Amid the crisis, the leader of the presidential party announced his resignation. “I am stepping down as head of the People’s Power Party,” Han Dong-hun said during a press conference, adding that he “sincerely apologizes” to his fellow citizens who “suffered because of the martial law” the leader declared. of the state.

Despite backlash in his faction over his calls for President Yun to be ousted, Mr. Khan emphasized that he does not regret this decision.