South Korea’s Constitutional Court is set to deliver its ruling on Friday, April 4, determining whether impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol will be permanently removed from office.
In a statement released on Tuesday, April 1, the court announced that the highly anticipated decision will be handed down at 11 a.m. (02:00 GMT) and will be broadcast live.
For Yoon’s impeachment to be upheld, at least six of the court’s eight justices must rule in favor of his removal. If the court confirms his ouster, South Korea will hold a presidential election within 60 days. However, if the ruling overturns the impeachment, Yoon—who has been suspended since mid-December—will be reinstated immediately.
Yoon was impeached by lawmakers after he briefly declared martial law late last year. He defended the move as a response to what he described as obstructionist tactics by the opposition Democratic Party and its alleged pro-North Korea stance. The martial law decree, however, was lifted just six hours later when the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn it.
Elected in 2022, Yoon’s fate now rests in the hands of the Constitutional Court, with the ruling set to shape South Korea’s political landscape in the months ahead.