South Korea’s Constitutional Court has officially removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, upholding the impeachment motion passed by parliament over his brief imposition of martial law last year that triggered a political crisis.
Under South Korean law, a presidential election must be held within 60 days following a president’s removal from office.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will continue to serve as acting president until a new head of state is sworn in.
President Yoon is also facing a criminal trial on charges of insurrection in connection with the declaration of martial law.
The 64-year-old Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested, having been taken into custody on January 15, although he was released last month after the court canceled his arrest warrant.
The political turmoil in South Korea erupted when Yoon declared martial law in December, claiming it was necessary to combat “anti-state” forces and prevent alleged abuses of power by the parliamentary majority.
Martial law was lifted just six hours later after lawmakers successfully blocked a security forces’ attempt to shut down the parliament building.
Mass protests followed the declaration, and it remains uncertain whether the country’s political unrest will subside following the court’s historic ruling.