Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.
What comes next for impeached president?
President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the eighth hearing of his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Jongno District, Seoul, Feb. 13. Joint Press Corps
By Jung Da-hyun
With Yoon removed from office, probes into martial law declaration and scandal related to political broker expected
Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to face a series of criminal investigations, including potential treason charges, following his immediate removal from office. With the Constitutional Court's ruling Friday, Yoon has been stripped of all presidential privileges.
The court’s ruling came 111 days after Yoon was suspended for declaring martial law on Dec. 3 — a move that sparked nationwide political unrest and was deemed a serious violation of constitutional rights.
With his presidency now officially terminated, most special privileges granted to a sitting head of state will be revoked.
Yoon will no longer be entitled to support staff, including official aides or a driver, and will be ineligible for a pension amounting to 95 percent of a president’s salary.
He will also lose the right to be buried at a national cemetery such as Seoul National Cemetery.
Photos of Yoon, which have been displayed in meeting rooms and at military command offices, will also be taken down.
While Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, as acting president, currently holds command authority over the military, his portrait will not be displayed in military units. New presidential photos will be displayed once a successor is elected.
Additionally, Yoon is required to vacate the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, although there is no specific deadline for his departure.
Former President Park Geun-hye relocated to her private residence two days after the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment on March 10, 2017, due to security and maintenance considerations.
Yoon is expected to return to his private residence in Seocho District in southern Seoul. However, his departure from the presidential residence may not be immediate, as reports indicate that security personnel have yet to begin any relocation preparations.
Despite his removal from office, Yoon will continue to receive security protection under the Act on the Honorable Treatment of Former Presidents. The security measure also extends to first lady Kim Keon Hee. The security detail is guaranteed for five years and can be extended up to 10 years if the security service chief deems it necessary.
However, if Yoon is arrested during the course of any criminal investigation, those protections will be suspended for the duration of his detention.
Yoon is also likely to face multiple criminal investigations, starting with allegations of treason over his martial law declaration.
Probes into scandals, including those involving the first lady and self-proclaimed political fixer Myung Tae-kyun, may also accelerate.
While Yoon was shielded from every criminal prosecution during his presidency — except for treason charges — his removal from office has now opened the door for legal accountability.
Last year, allegations surfaced of election interference surrounding Yoon, Kim and Myung, related to manipulating the ruling People Power Party’s candidate nominations for the 2022 by-elections and the April 10 general election in 2024.
Myung, currently under investigation, claims that Yoon and his wife exerted undue influence over the nomination process.
"Once investigations begin, it’s highly likely that Yoon could be arrested," said political commentator Park Sang-byung.
"Beyond abuse of power, there are multiple charges he could face. As the probe into Myung may be expanded, attention will inevitably turn to Yoon as well."