UNI Asia & Pacific welcomes Korean Constitutional Court decision to remove President

On a cold winter’s night on 3 December 2024, an unscheduled nationally televised declaration of martial law by the then-President Yoon Suk-Yeol made from the Yongsan presidential office in Seoul, Korea, plunged the country into chaos.

Through live streaming over the airwaves and the internet, the entire world witnessed harrowing scenes of soldiers attempting to breach the National Assembly. Lawmakers, aided by hundreds and thousands of concerned citizens facing off armed soldiers, struggled valiantly to muster sufficient votes to nullify the unilateral declaration.

President Yoon rescinded his orders a few hours later. Subsequent National Assembly proceedings failed to see him take the opportunity to resign voluntarily. The ensuing action shifted to the courtroom when the Constitutional Court finally achieved its quorum to hold a hearing on the impeachment charges against Yoon.

After 11 hearings, the Constitutional Court on 4 April 2025 rejected Yoon’s arguments and unanimously ruled that his actions on 3 December were unconstitutional and upheld the impeachment charge against him.

The landmark decision effectively removed Yoon from the President’s office. 

Throughout this constitutional crisis, Korea’s labour movement, including UNI affiliates, stood at the forefront of public resistance. The affiliated unions in the UNI Korea Liaison Council, having long struggled with the Yoon administration over pressing social and labour reforms, now see this historic ruling as an opportunity to advance initiatives that were stalled under his presidency. 

UNI Asia & Pacific Regional Secretary Rajendra Acharya said, “The Constitutional Court’s dismissal of Yoon has now closed a chapter of social uncertainty and confusion for so many in Korea. We are impressed with our brothers and sisters in our affiliated unions for leading the charge on the streets with so many others to defend democracy, especially in today’s climate of democratic deficit across the whole world!”