‘I regret not living up to expectations’—ousted South Korean President Yoon apologises

“Dear beloved citizens, it has been a great honour to work for the Republic of Korea.
I deeply thank all of you who have supported and encouraged me despite my many shortcomings.
I am very sorry and regretful that I could not live up to your expectations.
I will always pray for our beloved Republic of Korea and its citizens.”
— Yoon Suk Yeol

In a nationally televised judgement, at least six out of eight Constitutional Court justices ruled in favour of Yoon’s removal. The court cited the severity of his actions in its explanation.

“Given the grave negative impact on constitutional order and the significant ripple effects of the defendant’s violations, we find that the benefits of upholding the constitution by removing the defendant from office far outweigh the national losses from the removal of a president,” said acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae.

The ruling sets in motion a new presidential election, which must be held within two months.

Yoon’s removal followed a high-stakes political crisis triggered in December, when he declared martial law and deployed troops to the streets of Seoul — a move he claimed was meant to fight what he described as “anti-state” forces in the opposition-controlled legislature. Opposition leaders from the Democratic Party condemned his actions, calling him “an alcoholic,” “a madman” and “ringleader of a rebellion.”

The National Assembly swiftly nullified the decree, impeached Yoon, and referred his case to the Constitutional Court — culminating in Friday’s landmark decision.

Yoon, a former star prosecutor with no prior elected experience, entered politics in 2021 and won the presidency the following year. His term was marked by deep political polarization and constant clashes with the opposition-led legislature.

(With inputs from Yonhap News Agency, Reuters, The Guardian)