South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (second from right) attends the fifth hearing of his impeachment trial over his short-lived imposition of martial law at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Feb. 4, 2025.
(JUNG YEON-JE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (second from right) attends the fifth hearing of his impeachment trial over his short-lived imposition of martial law at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Feb. 4, 2025.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment would pave the way for a progressive government that shifts toward pro-labor policies and rapprochement with China and North Korea; but if Yoon remains in office, ongoing political instability, protests and potential fractures within the ruling party could weaken conservative governance ahead of the 2027 election. The South Korean Constitutional Court held its 10th oral argument session for President Yoon's impeachment trial on Feb. 20 and will hold its final session for concluding arguments on Feb. 25. Afterward, the court's deliberation — which will culminate in a ruling to either confirm, overturn or dismiss Yoon's impeachment — is expected to last into early or mid-March, though deliberations for some past impeachment trials of South Korean presidents have concluded faster.

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