South Korea's Constitutional Court has begun trial proceedings for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended following his declaration of martial law, which has led to significant political turmoil in the country. This impeachment comes after widespread protests demanding his resignation, triggered by his announcement of martial law on December 3, which was later overturned by the National Assembly. This situation marks the third time a South Korean president has faced impeachment, following Roh Moo-hyun in 2004 and Park Geun-hye in 2016.

The court now has six months to decide whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate him. Yoon's ruling People Power Party (PPP) has been dealing with the repercussions of the situation, with its leader, Han Dong-hoon, announcing his resignation on Monday. Han stepped down amid increasing calls for his resignation, particularly from the large pro-Yoon faction within his party. Initially, Han attempted to orchestrate an orderly exit for Yoon but later pushed for his impeachment, claiming this was the only way to halt his presidency. The impeachment motion passed with 204 votes in favor and 85 against, with additional lawmakers voting in support of impeachment.

The trial proceedings are occurring amid political uncertainty, with protesters pledging to continue their demands for Yoon's removal. If the court upholds the impeachment, the country will be required to hold fresh presidential elections within 60 days. In the meantime, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is serving as acting president. Yoon has defended his decision to impose martial law and reiterated that he would fight until the end following his impeachment. The court's decision will be closely monitored, as it has the authority to remove Yoon from office.

The impeachment trial has also raised concerns about the court's ability to proceed with only six justices present out of nine. However, the court has stated that it can move forward with the trial, setting a preliminary hearing date for December 27. While the outcome of the trial remains unclear, it is evident that South Korea stands at a crossroads, and the court's decision will have significant implications for the country's future.