In this special episode, Jeongmin hosts professors Erik Mobrand and Cho Hee-kyung for a quick-fire Korea Pro briefing analyzing the historic Constitutional Court ruling on Friday that removed President Yoon Suk-yeol from office — making him the second South Korean president impeached and removed by the court.

Jeongmin kicks off with a comprehensive 10-minute summary of the Constitutional Court’s ruling, detailing how the justices unanimously voted to uphold Yoon’s impeachment and explaining the language they used in their decisive verdict. 

Jeongmin summarizes the court’s extensive deliberation process, and outlines how the justices structured their evaluation around five specific grounds for impeachment. She explains how the court comprehensively rejected almost all of Yoon’s defenses, including his claim that the martial law was merely a “warning” or a “plea” with no legal basis in the constitution.

Professor Cho explains the reasons behind the court’s unanimous ruling and the political context behind the decision’s delay. She discusses how the timing may have been influenced by the appellate court’s March decision to acquit main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung of his election law violation conviction, along with how the justices evaluated contested witness testimony and hearsay evidence differently than in a criminal proceeding.

Professor Mobrand examines the political implications of Yoon’s removal, arguing that the democratic resilience shown by ordinary citizens created a powerful check on executive overreach. He challenges the framing of South Korea’s society as simply “polarized,” suggesting that specific politicians have deliberately exacerbated divisions rather than this reflecting deep societal rifts.

The panel explores why the military largely refused to fully implement Yoon’s martial law orders, institutional weaknesses exposed by this constitutional crisis, and what reforms are most urgently needed — including reducing concentrated power in the presidential office and prosecutorial authority.

• Erik Mobrand is a professor of Korean Studies at Seoul National University’s Graduate School of International Studies, an expert on political transformation in Korea with a focus on the interplay of informal power and formal institutions.
• Cho Hee-kyung is a professor at Hongik University’s College of Law whose research spans international economic law, intellectual property, human rights and media law.

Editor’s Note: During the discussion, Professor Cho referred to the appellate Seoul High Court that handed down the verdict on opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on March 26 erroneously as the Supreme Court. This clarification has been noted for accuracy.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) and Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner), diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring ROK politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on the night of Friday, April 4, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:36 — 39.7MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS