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What to expect in South Korea now that Yoon has been removed from office

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What to expect in South Korea now that Yoon has been removed from office
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What to expect in South Korea now that Yoon has been removed from office

2025-04-04 17:56 Last Updated At:18:00

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The South Korean Constitutional Court’s decision to formally unseat President Yoon Suk Yeol is another test for the country’s democracy after the conservative-liberal divide deepened over his imposition of martial law and subsequent impeachment.

The court’s ruling Friday triggers a by-election for a new president.

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FILE - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waves to his supporters as he comes out of a detention center in Uiwang, South Korea, on March 8, 2025. (Hong Hyo-shik/Newsis via AP, File)

FILE - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waves to his supporters as he comes out of a detention center in Uiwang, South Korea, on March 8, 2025. (Hong Hyo-shik/Newsis via AP, File)

FILE - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Police officers stand guard as supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol try to enter the Seoul Western District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

FILE - Police officers stand guard as supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol try to enter the Seoul Western District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

FILE - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, South Korea, on Jan. 15, 2025. (Korea Pool via AP, File)

FILE - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, South Korea, on Jan. 15, 2025. (Korea Pool via AP, File)

FILE - Participants celebrate after hearing the news that South Korea's parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

FILE - Participants celebrate after hearing the news that South Korea's parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

FILE - South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, center, announces the result of voting for president impeachment during a plenary session of the impeachment vote of President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul, on Dec. 14, 2024. (Woohae Cho/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, center, announces the result of voting for president impeachment during a plenary session of the impeachment vote of President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul, on Dec. 14, 2024. (Woohae Cho/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - South Korean lawmakers attend during a plenary session of the impeachment vote of President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul, on Dec. 14, 2024. (Woohae Cho/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - South Korean lawmakers attend during a plenary session of the impeachment vote of President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul, on Dec. 14, 2024. (Woohae Cho/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - People try to enter the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

FILE - People try to enter the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

FILE - People watch a TV screen showing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's televised briefing at a bus terminal in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

FILE - People watch a TV screen showing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's televised briefing at a bus terminal in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

FILE - In this photo provided by South Korea Presidential Office, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (South Korea Unification Ministry via AP, File)

FILE - In this photo provided by South Korea Presidential Office, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (South Korea Unification Ministry via AP, File)

Yoon still faces criminal charges of rebellion, but he's unlikely to fade into the background. He is likely to thrust himself onto the political agenda, rallying his hard-core supporters and influencing the choice of the next leader of his party, which has made intensive efforts to regroup around calls for his reinstatement.

Here’s what you need to know about the court decision.

All eight of the Constitutional Court’s current justices upheld the impeachment motion and dismissed Yoon as president.

The constitutional crisis began on Dec. 3 when Yoon declared martial law and dispatched troops to the National Assembly. Lawmakers defied hundreds of soldiers and police officers to enter the legislative chamber and unanimously voted to lift martial law within hours.

On Dec. 14, the liberal opposition-controlled assembly impeached Yoon and suspended his presidential powers, accusing him of violating the constitution by declaring martial law, deploying troops to the legislature and election offices, and attempting to arrest opponents.

The constitution limits the exercise of martial law to times of war or comparable national emergencies. Yoon argued his decree was necessary to bring attention to what he called an “anti-state” main opposition party that abused its legislative majority to obstruct his agenda.

Even under martial law, the president doesn’t have the authority to shut down the legislature. Shortly after Yoon’s martial law declaration, the military’s martial law command issued a proclamation prohibiting “all political activities,” including those of the National Assembly.

Yoon has insisted that he never intended to disable the legislature, saying he sent troops there to maintain order, not to disrupt the vote. He also denied accusations that he sought arrests of rival politicians.

Yoon’s claims were contradicted by testimony from several senior military and police officers, who described a deliberate but poorly executed attempt to seize the legislature. In removing Yoon from office, the Constitutional Court rejected his argument that martial law was merely a temporary warning or an appeal to the public, stating he clearly violated the constitution and laws by “mobilizing military and police forces to obstruct the exercise of legislative authority.”

South Korea must now hold a presidential election within 60 days — potentially one of the most tense votes since the country’s transition from dictatorship in the late 1980s. The country’s electorate is deeply divided along ideological lines and Yoon’s legal saga has exacerbated polarization.

Yoon’s conservative supporters rioted at the Seoul Western District Court that authorized his arrest in January. Yoon’s lawyers and the ruling party have openly questioned the credibility of that court and law enforcement institutions, and he has continued to express contempt for his liberal rivals, endorsing baseless conspiracy theories about election fraud to justify his ill-fated authoritarian push.

Experts say Yoon’s actions are fueling severe political division, making compromise unlikely, and threaten to undermine the election by inspiring voter distrust in the results. There’s a high risk of disruption during the voting process, making it crucial to elevate security at polling and counting stations, said Kim Su-min, a politics analyst and former Gumi city council member.

“If people start refusing to accept any election outcome that is unfavorable to them, the other side will start doing the same,” said Kim Tae-hyung, a professor at Seoul’s Soongsil University. “If that cycle continues, trust in democracy will completely collapse.”

Yoon, never one to back down from a fight, may refuse to be ignored. In the coming weeks, he may rally supporters in the streets while trying to tighten his grip on the People Power Party, whose leadership is stacked with his loyalists and which has seen its popularity rebound with calls for his reinstatement.

In a statement issued through his lawyers, Yoon said he deeply regrets failing to live up to the public’s expectations, but didn’t specifically say whether he accepts the court’s ruling. Later, in a meeting with the conservative People Power Party leaders at the presidential residence he must vacate, Yoon urged them to prepare well and win the upcoming election, a party spokesperson told local media.

Facing a separate criminal trial on rebellion charges — punishable by death or life in prison — Yoon would strongly prefer a conservative president who could pardon him if convicted and will likely push to ensure his party’s primaries are won by a candidate he supports, Kim Su-min said. This would turn the upcoming election into a near-rematch between Yoon and liberal Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in 2022 and has his own legal troubles.

Whoever it is, South Korea’s next leader will face critical challenges. The turmoil caused by Yoon’s power grab and impeachment has disrupted high-level diplomacy and hurt the economy, as well as weakening Seoul’s ability to respond to tariffs and other shifts in U.S. policy under President Donald Trump.

Trump’s diplomatic lineups for South Korea and neighboring countries are expected to be completed before a new government is inaugurated in Seoul. This could pose a significant foreign policy challenge to South Korea, which won’t have a chance to explain its positions to the Trump administration ahead of formal negotiations, said Paik Wooyeal, a professor at Seoul’s Yonsei University.

Yoon was released from prison in March after the Seoul Central District Court cancelled his arrest and allowed him to stand trial without being detained.

But as a former president, Yoon has lost the presidential privilege that protected him from most criminal prosecution except on grave charges like rebellion. Prosecutors can now pursue other criminal charges related to Yoon’s martial law declaration and seek to detain him.

Legal experts said the Constitutional Court’s dismissal of Yoon could increase the chance he will be convicted of rebellion charges at the Seoul Central District Court.

Yoon’s defense minister, police chief and other senior military commanders have also been arrested and indicted over their roles in the martial law imposition.

FILE - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waves to his supporters as he comes out of a detention center in Uiwang, South Korea, on March 8, 2025. (Hong Hyo-shik/Newsis via AP, File)

FILE - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waves to his supporters as he comes out of a detention center in Uiwang, South Korea, on March 8, 2025. (Hong Hyo-shik/Newsis via AP, File)

FILE - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Police officers stand guard as supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol try to enter the Seoul Western District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

FILE - Police officers stand guard as supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol try to enter the Seoul Western District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

FILE - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, South Korea, on Jan. 15, 2025. (Korea Pool via AP, File)

FILE - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, South Korea, on Jan. 15, 2025. (Korea Pool via AP, File)

FILE - Participants celebrate after hearing the news that South Korea's parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

FILE - Participants celebrate after hearing the news that South Korea's parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

FILE - South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, center, announces the result of voting for president impeachment during a plenary session of the impeachment vote of President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul, on Dec. 14, 2024. (Woohae Cho/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, center, announces the result of voting for president impeachment during a plenary session of the impeachment vote of President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul, on Dec. 14, 2024. (Woohae Cho/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - South Korean lawmakers attend during a plenary session of the impeachment vote of President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul, on Dec. 14, 2024. (Woohae Cho/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - South Korean lawmakers attend during a plenary session of the impeachment vote of President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul, on Dec. 14, 2024. (Woohae Cho/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - People try to enter the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

FILE - People try to enter the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

FILE - People watch a TV screen showing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's televised briefing at a bus terminal in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

FILE - People watch a TV screen showing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's televised briefing at a bus terminal in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

FILE - In this photo provided by South Korea Presidential Office, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (South Korea Unification Ministry via AP, File)

FILE - In this photo provided by South Korea Presidential Office, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (South Korea Unification Ministry via AP, File)

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Doncic scores 30 points as Lakers dominate NBA-leading Thunder 126-99

2025-04-07 10:03 Last Updated At:10:11

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 30 points and the Los Angeles Lakers routed the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder 126-99 on Sunday.

Austin Reaves scored 20 points and LeBron James added 19 points and seven assists for the Lakers, who have won four of five.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points and Jalen Williams added 16 for the Thunder.

Oklahoma City remained two games ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the race for the league's best record with five games to play. But instead of closing in on the top seed and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs, the Thunder lost consecutive games for just the second time this season.

The teams will meet again Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

The Lakers led 42-32 after one quarter.

Doncic drove to the hoop before firing a two-handed pass behind his head to an open Gabe Vincent, who drained the 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 64-42 lead. The Lakers led 78-56 at halftime after making a franchise record 15 3-pointers in the first half. It was the most points Oklahoma City has given up in any half this season. Doncic led the way with 22 points and hit five 3-pointers, with most being well contested.

Doncic was fouled as he made a circus layup and the free throw pushed the Lakers’ lead to 93-67 in the third. The Lakers led 103-77 at the end of the period.

James' son, Bronny, hit a 3-pointer for the Lakers in the final minute to close out the scoring.

Lakers: Los Angeles showed the peak of its capability in perhaps the best piece of evidence that things are working with James and Doncic together.

Thunder: The Lakers' spectacular individual shotmaking rendered Oklahoma City’s team defensive strategy useless.

James got a steal and breakaway dunk in the fourth quarter to make it 107-83.

The Thunder scored fewer than 100 points for the first time since Nov. 15.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) looks to shoot over Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) looks to shoot over Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks for an outlet against Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks for an outlet against Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, looks to score in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso, center, and forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, looks to score in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso, center, and forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks to pass the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks to pass the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, dribbles away from Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, dribbles away from Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks to shoot over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks to shoot over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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