South Korea Court Ousts President Yoon, Triggering Election

A person wearing a mask in the likeness of Yoon Suk Yeol at a protest in Seoul on April 4.

Photographer: Andy Hung/Bloomberg
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A South Korean court removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his ill-fated martial law declaration, paving the way for a presidential race to end a leadership vacuum that has gripped the nation for months.

The Constitutional Court’s unanimous ruling Friday immediately stripped Yoon of his powers and set in motion a presidential election to take place within the next 60 days. Right now, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, is leading in polls as the top candidate to succeed Yoon.