Timeline: from martial law declaration to Yoon's removal

Graphic design by Cho Sang-won

Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was officially removed from office on Friday as the Constitutional Court upheld the motion against him. The ruling followed Yoon's Dec. 3 martial law declaration, which plunged the nation into unprecedented political turmoil and deepened polarization across the country. The nation now faces a transition period as preparations are set to begin for an early presidential election.

Here's a timeline of events, tracing how Yoon's botched martial law attempt ultimately led to his impeachment and removal from office.

Then-President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law during a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, Dec. 3, 2024. Yonhap

Dec. 3, 2024

Yoon abruptly declared martial law in a late-night public announcement at 10:30 p.m., igniting unprecedented political uproar and plunging the nation into chaos for almost six hours. It was the first of its kind since the 1979 declaration of emergency martial law 45 years ago.

The decree imposed a sweeping ban on political activities, suspending protests and operations by political parties.

Within an hour, a dedicated martial law command was established to oversee all administrative and judicial functions, with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su appointed as its leader.

At around 11 p.m., National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik issued an urgent call for lawmakers to convene for an emergency parliamentary vote, which was the only legal means to overturn the martial law decree.

Soldiers arriving in trucks and helicopters attempted to force their way into the National Assembly around 11:48 p.m.

Martial law forces blocking the National Assembly building are surrounded by citizens on the streets of Yeouido, Seoul, early Dec. 4, 2024, after the National Assembly passed a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law declared by former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Dec. 4

After midnight, soldiers smashed a window to break into the National Assembly's main building, while aides of lawmakers and Assembly officials hastily piled chairs and other furniture in hallways and entrances to block the troops.

Amid the chaos, Woo declared the opening of a regular session, and at 1:02 a.m., 190 lawmakers — some of whom had climbed over the Assembly’s fences to reach the chamber — voted unanimously to overturn martial law. The vote came two and a half hours after the session was declared.

Despite the resolution passing, Yoon delayed action for several more hours. He officially announced the lifting of martial law at 4:27 a.m., nearly three and a half hours after the motion was passed.

Later that day, at 2:43 p.m., six opposition parties, including the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), filed a motion to impeach Yoon, accusing him of violating the Constitution and committing treason.

National Assembly staff use fire extinguishers to block troops from entering the main area of the building, Dec. 4, 2024, following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law. Yonhap

Dec. 7

Rumors spread that Yoon was preparing to declare martial law again if the impeachment motion against him passed in the Assembly. However, Yoon denied the claims in a brief statement that morning.

During the National Assembly's main session to vote on the impeachment, all members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), except Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, boycotted the vote by walking out of the chamber. Although Rep. Kim Yea-ji and Rep. Kim Sang-wook later returned to cast their votes, it was not enough to meet the required quorum of 200.

With the opposition holding 192 out of 300 seats, at least eight PPP lawmakers were needed to impeach the president. The motion ultimately failed, allowing Yoon to escape impeachment despite the backlash over his martial law fiasco.

Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) floor leader Park Chan-dae calls out the names of all People Power Party lawmakers ahead of the impeachment vote against then-President Yoon Suk Yeol during a plenary session at the National Assembly on Dec. 7, 2024, after all PPP lawmakers except Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo walked out. DPK lawmakers stood up and joined in calling out the names. Korea Times photo by Ko Young-kwon

Dec. 12

Yoon admitted in a public address that he had ordered martial law forces to intervene in the National Election Commission (NEC) during the Dec. 3 martial law crisis to investigate allegations of election fraud. His remarks echoed claims made by far-right YouTubers, who have argued without evidence that the general election on April 10, 2024, had been rigged, prompting a public backlash.

Criticism also emerged within Yoon's own party. Former People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon openly called on ruling party lawmakers to support impeachment, stating it should be adopted as the party’s official stance.

Meanwhile, six opposition parties jointly submitted a second impeachment motion against Yoon. All 191 lawmakers from the opposition bloc signed onto the motion.

As with the first impeachment attempt, the new motion accused Yoon of violating the Constitution by declaring martial law without meeting the necessary legal requirements, thereby infringing upon the principles of popular sovereignty and the separation of powers.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik bangs his gavel to announce that the impeachment motion was passed in a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 14, 2024. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Dec. 14

The National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against Yoon, marking the third time in the country's history that a president faced impeachment.

The impeachment motion passed with 204 votes in favor and 85 against, with all 300 lawmakers present. It required at least two-thirds of the Assembly, or 200 votes, to pass — a threshold that was narrowly exceeded.

Yoon was officially suspended from his duties at 7:24 p.m. after his office received the impeachment resolution from the National Assembly.

Justice Cheong Hyung-sik, left, and Justice Lee Mi-son arrive to preside over the first preparatory hearing for the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, Dec. 27, 2024. Korea Times photo by Ha Sang-yoon

Dec. 27

The Constitutional Court officially began the impeachment trial of Yoon, vowing to proceed swiftly with the case.

Despite earlier criticism that Yoon’s legal team was intentionally stalling, his defense attorneys attended the first preparatory hearing and submitted a power of attorney on the same day.

The session, held without Yoon's presence, wrapped up in just 40 minutes with only his legal defense team in attendance.

The sign of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province / Yonhap

Dec. 30

After Yoon failed to comply with three requests to appear for questioning, investigators sought an arrest warrant, making him the first sitting president in the nation’s history to face arrest.

A joint investigation team — comprised of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the National Police Agency and the Ministry of National Defense’s investigation unit — filed the request with the Seoul Western District Court. Yoon faces charges of insurrection and abuse of power.

The CIO had previously identified Yoon as the leader of the alleged insurrection and a key suspect in the abuse of authority case. Despite repeated requests to appear for questioning, Yoon refused to cooperate, declining to accept the requests, submit a power of attorney or negotiate scheduling.

Dec. 31

The Seoul Western District Court approved a request for an arrest warrant for Yoon, allowing authorities to detain the impeached president for questioning. The court also authorized a search of his residence in central Seoul’s Hannam-dong as part of the investigation.

Yoon's attorney, Yoon Gap-geun, however, rejected the court's decision, saying that the legal team would seek an injunction from the Constitutional Court to challenge its validity.

Supporters of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol gather outside his residential compund in central Seoul, Jan. 3. Investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials leave the scene in a vehicle after failing to execute an arrest warrant. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Jan. 3, 2025

The CIO's first attempt to detain Yoon was called off after hours of confrontation with presidential security staff and thousands of his supporters, who blocked the investigators’ path.

Tensions escalated from early morning as investigators struggled to navigate roads obstructed by troops under the command of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) and crowds of pro-Yoon protesters near his residence.

Around 2,700 police officers were mobilized to maintain order and prevent clashes between the investigators and the president's supporters. The CIO decided to withdraw citing safety concerns amid rising tensions.

The decision placed the CIO in a difficult position, as it faced mounting pressure to determine whether to attempt another raid despite the risk of violent conflict. Complicating matters further, the arrest warrant was set to expire on Jan. 6.

Jan. 6

The CIO filed a renewed request for Yoon's detention warrant with the Seoul court as the expiration of the warrant neared.

It had initially informed the police that it would delegate the enforcement of the detention warrant to them. However, the police effectively refused, citing legal concerns. After further negotiations, the two agencies agreed to carry out the warrant jointly.

Jan. 7

A Seoul court later approved an extension of the arrest warrant after the initial one expired on Jan. 6.

Tensions flared once again as rallies by both pro- and anti-Yoon groups continued near the presidential residence, fueling concerns over potential clashes.

Security vehicles, including one reportedly carrying then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, leave the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, Jan. 15, as the second arrest warrant is executed. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-cul

Jan. 15

Yoon became the first sitting president in Korean history to be taken into police custody. The arrest came after investigators successfully executed the second arrest warrant.

The CIO announced at 10:33 a.m. that the warrant had been carried out, 43 days after Yoon’s martial law declaration. Interrogation began around 11 a.m., but Yoon refused to make any statements during the day-long questioning.

Following the session, which concluded at 9:40 p.m., Yoon was transferred to the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.

A sign for the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo District is damaged, Jan. 20, due to violent protests by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's supporters who stormed into the court. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Jan. 19

At around 2:50 a.m., the CIO secured an arrest warrant for Yoon from the Seoul Western District Court. The agency announced its plan to question Yoon immediately, aiming to begin the interrogation by 2 p.m., roughly 11 hours later. However, the session fell through as Yoon refused to appear.

Since his initial questioning on Jan. 15, shortly after being detained by the CIO, Yoon ignored all subsequent requests for additional investigations.

The CIO later confirmed that it had sent a formal notice to the detention center, banning him from meeting visitors other than his lawyers due to concerns over the potential destruction of evidence.

Following Yoon's arrest, an unprecedented act of crowd violence erupted at a Seoul court as staunch supporters of Yoon clashed with police, protesting his formal arrest. The violent confrontation resulted in injuries to nine police officers and the apprehension of 87 protesters. The incident was widely condemned as a serious threat to the judiciary, raising the alarm over the escalating tensions surrounding Yoon's arrest.

Jan. 26

Yoon was formally indicted on charges of leading an insurrection linked to his martial law declaration, becoming the first sitting Korean president to be indicted while in detention. Prosecutors brought the indictment just one day before Yoon’s detention period was set to expire, following his provisional arrest by the CIO on Jan. 15.

Feb. 4

While standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection, Yoon filed a petition with the court seeking the cancellation of his detention. He argued that since the indictment came after his detention period had expired, his arrest and continued detention were unlawful.

Yoon also reiterated that the insurrection charge itself was groundless, claiming there was neither intent to disrupt the constitutional order — a key requirement for the charge — nor any violent uprising.

Additionally, Yoon’s legal team argued that the CIO had acted unlawfully during his arrest and search, asserting that the location listed in the warrant did not match the actual site searched.

Then-President Yoon Suk Yeol waves to his supporters after being released from Seoul Detention Center and arriving at his residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, March 8. Yonhap

March 7

A Seoul court granted Yoon's request to revoke his arrest warrant, clearing the way for his release from detention.

March 8

Following a Seoul court's decision, prosecutors issued a release order to Seoul Detention Center. It was 27 hours after receiving the court’s decision to revoke the president's arrest warrant. After intense internal debate, they ultimately decided not to file an immediate appeal, allowing Yoon to be released through the standard legal procedure. He was subsequently freed and returned to his residence.

Constitutional Court judges take their seats for the ruling on then-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment at the court's main chamber in Jongno District, Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

April 4

Yoon was immediately removed from office as the Constitutional Court on Friday upheld the impeachment. With the ruling finalized, the nation now faces a 60-day deadline to hold a presidential election, likely setting the vote for June 3 or earlier.