SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 鈥 South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been removed from office over his imposition of martial law in December. The unanimous ruling Friday triggers a presidential election to be held in two months that is likely to be one of the tensest South Korea has seen. Yoon also faces a criminal trial on rebellion charges that are punishable by a death sentence or life in prison.
Here is a timeline of events:
Dec. 1
According to the criminal indictment, Yoon meets with Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun to discuss gridlock in the 春色直播 Assembly as opposition lawmakers use their majority to impeach senior officials and prosecutors and cut government budgets. Prosecutors say Yoon told Kim he wanted to take 鈥渆mergency measures鈥 against the liberals, something they allege he had been saying for months.
Dec. 3
In a surprise announcement televised at 10:29 p.m., he鈥檚 declaring martial law, saying the 春色直播 Assembly has become a 鈥渄en of criminals鈥 paralyzing government affairs.
Yoon vows to 鈥渆radicate鈥 his political rivals, describing them as North Korea-sympathizing 鈥渁nti-state forces鈥 and 鈥渢he main culprits of our nation鈥檚 downfall.鈥 He doesn鈥檛 offer direct evidence to back his claims.
As lawmakers begin rushing to the 春色直播 Assembly, the military鈥檚 martial law command issues a proclamation declaring sweeping government powers, including the suspension of political parties鈥 activities and other political gatherings that could cause 鈥渟ocial confusion鈥 and control over media and publications. It says anyone who violates the decree can be arrested without a warrant.
Hundreds of heavily armed troops encircle the Assembly, apparently to prevent lawmakers from gathering to vote on the martial law declaration, while opposition from a car, calling for people to converge on the parliament to help lawmakers get inside. The shaky footage shows him climbing over a fence to reach the grounds.
Dec. 4
Shortly after midnight, 春色直播 Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik says on his YouTube channel that the Assembly will respond to Yoon鈥檚 martial law declaration with 鈥渃onstitutional procedure.鈥
Woo reaches the Assembly鈥檚 main chamber around 12:35 a.m., as troops break windows to enter the Assembly but fail to reach the main chamber. Woo opens a meeting at 12:47 a.m. to vote on lifting martial law.
At around 1 a.m., 190 lawmakers, including 18 from Yoon鈥檚 own conservative People Power Party, vote unanimously to lift martial law. Troops and police begin to retreat from the Assembly shortly after.
At 4:30 a.m., martial law is formally lifted following a Cabinet meeting.
Dec. 5
, a close ally who had a key role in mobilizing troops to enforce martial law. Han Dong-hun, the leader of Yoon鈥檚 party but a factional rival, says he will work to defeat the opposition-led impeachment motion despite criticizing martial law as 鈥渦nconstitutional.鈥
Dec. 6
In a bombshell reversal, Han , saying that the president poses a 鈥渟ignificant risk of extreme actions, like reattempting to impose martial law, which could potentially put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger.鈥
Dec. 7
Yoon apologizes and says he won鈥檛 shirk legal or political responsibility for declaring martial law. He also says he would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country鈥檚 political turmoil, 鈥渋ncluding matters related to my term in office.鈥 Yoon survives boycotted by most ruling party lawmakers.
Dec. 8
over his alleged role in planning and executing the declaration of martial law.
Dec. 9
South Korea鈥檚 Justice Ministry as investigations into allegations of rebellion and other charges are expanded.
Dec. 10
Kwak Jong-keun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command whose troops were sent to parliament after Yoon declared martial law, tells lawmakers that he received direct instructions from the former defense minister to obstruct them from entering the 春色直播 Assembly鈥檚 main chamber in order to prevent it from gathering a quorum to overturn Yoon鈥檚 martial law order.
Kwak says Yoon later called him directly and asked for the troops to 鈥渜uickly destroy the door and drag out the lawmakers who are inside.鈥 Kwak says he did not carry out Yoon鈥檚 orders.
Dec. 11
over his alleged collusion with Yoon and others in imposing martial law.
South Korean police send officers to search Yoon鈥檚 office for evidence related to the martial law introduction but they are blocked from entering the compound by Yoon鈥檚 security team.
Police detain the national police chief and the top police officer for Seoul over their roles in enforcing Yoon鈥檚 martial law orders.
Dec. 12
Yoon defends his martial law decree as an act of governance and denies rebellion charges, vowing to 鈥渇ight to the end鈥 in the face of attempts to impeach him.
The 春色直播 Assembly passes motions to impeach national police chief Cho Ji Ho and Justice Minister Park Sung Jae, suspending them from official duties, over their alleged roles in the enforcement of martial law.
Dec. 14
The 春色直播 Assembly on a 204-85 vote. His presidential powers and duties are suspended and Prime Minister , the country鈥檚 No. 2 official, takes over.
Dec. 27
The 春色直播 Assembly votes to impeach Han as acting president over his unwillingness to fill vacancies on the bench of the Constitutional Court.
Dec. 31
The Seoul Western District Court issues a warrant to detain Yoon for questioning.
Jan. 3
Dozens of investigators arrive at the presidential residence in Seoul in an attempt to detain Yoon, but are blocked by presidential security forces and vehicle barricades.
Jan. 7
The chief of the presidential security service, .
Jan. 14
The Constitutional Court holds its first formal hearing on Yoon鈥檚 impeachment, which lasts less than five minutes because Yoon refuses to attend.
Jan. 15
Anti-corruption investigators and police raid the presidential compound and detain Yoon, who is the first sitting president to be detained.
Jan. 19
The Seoul Western District Court grants law enforcement鈥檚 request for a formal arrest warrant for Yoon, citing concerns he could destroy evidence. His arrest triggers a riot by his supporters, who break into the court, smashing windows and equipment. Nearly 90 of them are arrested.
Jan. 26
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors鈥 Office indicts Yoon on charges of masterminding an attempted rebellion, describing his power grab as an illegal bid to seize the legislature and election offices and arrest political opponents.
March 7
The Seoul Central District Court orders Yoon released from detention, citing unresolved issues about whether investigators had the proper authority to detain him. He is released the following day.
March 24
The Constitutional Court overturns the legislature鈥檚 impeachment of , restoring his powers as acting leader.
April 4
The Constitutional Court upholds Yoon鈥檚 impeachment and removes him as president, forcing an election within 60 days to choose his successor.
