The Constitutional Court will deliver its ruling on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol at 11 a.m. on Apr. 4, marking 108 days since the National Assembly passed the motion. The proceedings will be broadcast live, with public attendance permitted.
On Apr. 1, the court told reporters that the decision will be issued in a full bench session and that live coverage by broadcasters and general public access will be allowed. The ruling comes 38 days after the court concluded arguments on Feb. 25.
If six or more of the eight sitting justices vote to uphold the motion, Yoon will be immediately removed from office. If the motion is dismissed or rejected, he will return to his presidential duties.
Should the court rule in favor of removal, the Constitution mandates that a presidential election be held within 60 days. The vote is widely expected to take place in the first week of June.
The National Assembly approved the impeachment motion on Dec. 14, 2024, and submitted it to the court, citing Yoon’s declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2023, and the deployment of military forces to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission as violations of the Constitution and relevant laws.
The Constitutional Court held 11 sessions of arguments, hearing from both sides. Since the conclusion of those proceedings, the justices have convened regularly to deliberate on the case. While the advance notice of the ruling—two to three days—is consistent with precedent, the period between the end of arguments and the announcement of the decision date was more than three times longer than in previous presidential impeachment cases.
President Yoon’s case was submitted on Dec. 14 last year, with the ruling set to be delivered 111 days after the impeachment motion was filed. Former President Roh Moo-hyun was reinstated after the motion against him was dismissed 63 days after its submission, while former President Park Geun-hye was removed from office 91 days after her impeachment.
Contrary to expectations, the Constitutional Court’s deliberations in Yoon’s case have taken longer than in any previous presidential impeachment, setting new records for the longest intervals both from the end of arguments to the ruling and from the filing of the motion to the final decision.
