POLITICS

South Korea's Political Upset: President Out, Nation Divided

South Korea, SeoulFri Apr 04 2025
South Korea is in a state of political chaos. The Constitutional Court has just kicked out President Yoon Suk Yeol. This happened four months after he made a bold and controversial move. He declared martial law and sent troops to the parliament building. His goal? To break a political deadlock. But it backfired big time. The court's decision was unanimous. It came over three months after the opposition-controlled National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon. Now, South Korea has to hold a national election within two months to pick a new leader. Early polls show Lee Jae-myung, the head of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, is the front-runner. News of the verdict sparked wild celebrations near the old royal palace in downtown Seoul. People were overjoyed. They cried, danced, and hugged each other. But not everyone was happy. Yoon's supporters are likely to ramp up their protests. This could drag out the national division even more. Let's rewind a bit. On December 3, Yoon suddenly declared martial law. He sent hundreds of soldiers and police officers to the National Assembly. He claimed he wanted to keep order. But some high-ranking military and police officials had a different story. They said Yoon ordered them to force lawmakers out to block a vote on his decree. Eventually, enough lawmakers sneaked in and voted to shut down Yoon's decree. They didn't stop there. On December 14, the National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon. They accused him of breaking the constitution and other laws. They said he tried to stop assembly activities, detain politicians, and mess with the country's peace. This whole situation has left South Korea in a tough spot. The country is split, and the road ahead is uncertain. One thing is clear: South Korea is in for a bumpy ride as it navigates this political storm.

questions

    What were the immediate consequences of the Constitutional Court's decision to remove President Yoon from office?
    If martial law was declared to maintain order, why did it seem to cause more chaos than it solved?
    How might the political turmoil in South Korea affect its international relations and economic stability?

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