Unanimous Yoon impeachment ruling could minimise political chaos, says South Korea legal expert

Record ID: 1988208

  • Title: Unanimous Yoon impeachment ruling could minimise political chaos, says South Korea legal expert
  • Date: 4th April 2025
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF VENUS JEWELS, SEVANTI SHAH, SAYING: "It is very difficult to understand the mindset of the American people, and about the President Trump also." VARIOUS OF WORKER LAYING OUT AND SCOOPING UP POLISHED DIAMONDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF VENUS JEWELS, SEVANTI SHAH, SAYING: "If they reduce the rough price, some m
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Analyst Constitution Constitutional Court Court Impeach Interview Office Politics President Protest Sogang University Law School South Korea Yoon
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA004411303042025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Korean Constitutional Court’s undivided ruling to oust impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol from office would reduce the potential fallout and political chaos that could have arisen from a mixed ruling, according to a legal expert on Friday (April 4).
    "I think the Constitutional Court made a wise decision by making a unanimous ruling on this matter, minimizing the potential for national division or political chaos that could arise from opposing opinions among the Constitutional Court Judges,” said Lim Ji-bong, a professor of constitutional law at Sogang University Law School said.
    The constitutional court decided on Friday to oust Yoon, upholding parliament's impeachment motion over his short-lived imposition of martial law last year that sparked the country's worst political crisis in decades.
    The 64-year-old Yoon still faces a criminal trial on insurrection charges related to the martial law declaration which carries a maximum sentence of death or life imprisonment.
    “Any president who violates the will of the people and abuses their powers can be impeached in the name of the people,” said Lim, adding that “this decision sends a message that democracy can grow even stronger afterward.”
    The embattled leader became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested on January 15 but was released in March after a court canceled his arrest warrant. Oral arguments in the case start on April 14.
    The crisis was triggered by Yoon's surprise late-night declaration that martial law was needed in part to root out “anti-state”elements.
    (Production: Yeonbin Park, Jisoo Kim, Heejung Jung)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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