South Korea's recently ousted president has apologized for failing to live up to citizens' expectations.
South Korea's Constitutional Court removed impeached President Yoon Seok-yeol from office on Friday, ending his turbulent presidency and triggering elections to find a new leader.
In a statement released by his defense team, Mr. Yun said he felt deep regret for failing to meet public expectations.
“It has been a great honor for me to serve the Republic of Korea,” he said.
Mr Yun added that he would pray for his country and its people.
It comes four months after he caused political turmoil in the country by declaring martial law.
The unanimous decision marked a dramatic fall from grace for Mr. Yun, a previously distinguished prosecutor who rose from political novice to president in 2022, just a year into his political career.
Mr Yoon's ruling People's Power Party said it would accept the decision, but one of Mr Yoon's lawyers, Yoon Kap-geun, described it as “completely incomprehensible” and a “purely political decision”.
In a decision broadcast on national television, acting chief justice Moon Hyun-bae said the eight-judge panel upheld Mr. Yoon's impeachment, saying his martial law decree seriously violated the constitution and other laws.
“The defendant not only declared martial law, but also violated the constitution and laws by mobilizing military and police forces to obstruct the exercise of legislative power,” Mr. Moon said.
“Ultimately, the declaration of martial law in this case violates the basic requirements of a state of emergency.
“Given the serious negative impact on the constitutional order and the significant consequences of the violations committed by the defendant, we find that the benefits of upholding the constitution by removing the defendant from office greatly outweigh the national costs of removing the president.”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
