S. Korea's four-month political saga: Twists and turns in photos

South Korea just removed its president in a historic, sometimes chaotic impeachment saga. After months of turmoil, protests and a high-stakes trial, the Constitutional Court ruled today to oust President Yoon Suk Yeol. Here’s what happened over the past 122 days — from Dec. 3, 2024 to April 4, 2025 — in photos.

In a surprise late-night announcement that plunged South Korea into months of political chaos, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, in a televised national address. Claiming that the country was under threat from "antistate forces," he accused opposition lawmakers of subversion and disrupting democratic functions.

The martial law decree, however, lasted for only about six hours, as the National Assembly rushed to reach a quorum and voted to revoke it early the next morning.

Having been suspended from office, Yoon faced investigations into his actions, which prosecutors later labeled as insurrection in their Jan. 26 indictment. After repeatedly ignoring summons for questioning and resisting a court-issued arrest warrant, Yoon was eventually taken into custody on Jan. 15.

The conservative president's staunch supporters, growing in number, increasingly took to the streets. On Jan. 18, a mob of Yoon supporters attacked a courthouse following its approval of an arrest warrant for the president.

While kept behind bars, Yoon was able to attend his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court, from the third to the 11th and final hearing, creating one of the most high-profile courtroom dramas in the country's history.

In another unexpected turn of events, President Yoon was released from jail on March 8, a day after a court canceled his arrest, citing procedural errors on the part of the prosecution. Yoon's release was hailed by his supporters and the ruling People Power Party.

The Constitutional Court kept the nation waiting for any word on its ruling, however, as the justices continued South Korea's longest deliberation in a presidential impeachment case since the conclusion of hearings on Feb. 25.

In a landmark decision, the Constitutional Court ruled 8–0 to uphold the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, permanently removing him from office. This marks the second time in South Korean history that a sitting president has been dismissed by the court.

The verdict sent shock waves across the country, prompting cheers in central Seoul and stunned silence among Yoon’s supporters. Acting President Han Duck-soo will remain in office until a new presidential election is held within 60 days, as mandated by law.