Friday, April 4

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has finally been impeached by the country's Supreme Court after a monthslong process following his declaration of martial law.

Back in December, South Korea was plunged into chaos for a day after President Yoon declared martial law, putting the country under the control of the military for one day. Yoon stated that it was due to the danger of an incoming threat from their North Korean neighbors, who he claimed were plotting against him and his government.

Outrage against Yoon followed, as martial law is similar to a temporary authoritarian rule. South Korea, having struggled with dictatorship in the past, has people who vividly remember those times, and the institution of martial law brought back many of those memories for older people.

The order for martial law was quickly repealed after a vote by lawmakers, and President Yoon was urged to resign by opposition parties. Nevertheless, he refused to resign, and a motion to impeach him was sent to the National Assembly. While this motion failed by a mere five votes, another motion to impeach Yoon passed the threshold by 4 votes the following week.

This all occurred back in December, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo began his term as interim president. However, he was also impeached, giving the position to Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, but Duck-soo was brought back into office later on.

Despite these steps, Yoon had been only temporarily impeached until now. The final part of the impeachment of a South Korean president is that it must be approved by the Supreme Court of Korea, the country's top court.

Then, earlier today, the court unanimously voted to impeach President Yoon, confirming that the National Assembly's attempt to dismiss him from office was justified. Yoon just needed three or more justices to take his side, but all eight of them voted against him.

Now, South Korea will need to hold elections within the next 60 days, with Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition, expected to be the candidate in front. Meanwhile, Yoon will not be able to return to his position as president, as South Korean presidents can only serve one term, and he is not permitted to run for any political position for the next five years.

In addition, Yoon is also facing several criminal charges, as he has been accused of attempting to start an insurrection by imposing martial law upon the country. Since his impeachment does not affect those charges, he may still face fines or jail time if he is found guilty in criminal courts.

Fact of the Day (Today): While it only receives 1/900th of the energy emitted by the Sun, Neptune has the fastest wind speeds in the solar system, reaching up to 1,500 mph.

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. (Bernard M. Baruch)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Snark (noun, SNAHRK) - Snark is an informal word that refers to an attitude or expression of mocking irreverence and sarcasm.

In a Sentence: The stand-up comedian’s set was full of snark about current events, which had the audience rolling in the aisles.