From star prosecutor to political collapse: A look at impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s career | World News

South Korea’s Constitutional Court removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office on Friday, marking an extraordinary and swift downfall for the conservative leader. The impeachment came after Yoon declared martial law and deployed troops to the streets of Seoul, a move widely condemned as an attempt to cling to power amid mounting political opposition.A former star prosecutor, Yoon entered politics in 2021 and won the presidency a year later, despite having no prior experience as an elected official.  His tenure, however, was marked political divisions, clashes with the opposition-led legislature, and a governing style critics described as inflexible.
As South Korea now turns the page on Yoon’s presidency, here’s a look at his career, how he rose to power—and why his leadership ultimately collapsed.
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How did Yoon Suk Yeol become a political star?
Before entering politics, Yoon spent 26 years as a prosecutor, building a reputation as a relentless investigator who pursued powerful figures without hesitation.
He first gained national attention in 2013 when he publicly accused his boss of pressuring him to drop an investigation into allegations that the state intelligence agency had carried out an illegal online campaign to help conservative Park Geun-hye win the 2012 presidential election.
Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose his impeachment near the the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea. (AP photo)
During a parliamentary hearing, Yoon famously declared, “I’m not loyal to (high-level) people.”
His outspokenness led to his demotion.
However, after Park was impeached and removed from office in 2017 over a separate corruption scandal, the newly elected liberal President Moon Jae-in promoted Yoon to lead a major prosecutors’ office that investigated Park and other conservative figures. He was later appointed as Moon’s prosecutor general.Story continues below this ad
From a prosecutor to President
Yoon’s relationship with Moon’s government soured over investigations into Moon’s allies, and in 2021, he resigned as prosecutor general and entered politics.
He quickly became a leading conservative figure, joining the opposition People Power Party, despite previously investigating its leaders. The party embraced him as a political outsider capable of leading their push to reclaim power in the 2022 presidential election.
A man wearing a mask of President Yoon Suk Yeol celebrates along with others after Yoon was removed from office, near royal palace in downtown Seoul, South Korea. (AP photo)
Yoon narrowly defeated Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung.
On the global stage, Yoon prioritized strengthening South Korea’s alliance with the United States and mending strained relations with Japan. He deepened military cooperation with Washington and Tokyo, seeking a united front against North Korea’s growing nuclear threats.Story continues below this ad
In April 2023, Yoon made headlines during a White House state dinner when he sang ‘American Pie’ at the request of then-President Joe Biden. Later that year, he hosted a horic trilateral summit with Biden and Japan’s Prime Miner Fumio Kishida at Camp David, where they agreed to boost security cooperation.

Domestically, however, Yoon’s presidency was defined political gridlock. His conservative adminration was at odds with the opposition-controlled National Assembly, where the Democratic Party filed a staggering 30 impeachment motions against senior officials. Yoon’s government, in turn, vetoed opposition-led bills about 40 times.
What led to Yoon’s downfall?
As tensions escalated, Yoon resorted to an unprecedented move—declaring martial law. He justified it as an appeal to the public to res what he called “the wickedness” of the Democratic Party. His critics, however, saw it as a desperate power grab.
In his martial law announcement, Yoon called the opposition-controlled legislature “a den of criminals,” “a monster” and “anti-state forces.” Democratic Party leaders denounced him as “an alcoholic,” “a madman” and “ringleader of a rebellion.”Story continues below this ad
An effigy depicting impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is displayed at a camp set up protesters in opposition to Yoon, in Seoul. (AP photo)
The National Assembly quickly nullified the decree before impeaching him and sending his case to the Constitutional Court.
Some believe Yoon’s martial law decree was an attempt to thwart a special investigation into his wife, Kim Keon Hee. Kim faced multiple allegations, including spy camera footage showing her accepting a luxury bag from a pastor, speculation about her involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme, and accusations that she and Yoon improperly influenced their party’s candidate selection for a 2022 -election.
Ultimately, Yoon’s presidency came to an end, with his impeachment and removal from office. And his ouster, just two years into his presidency, has left the country in a political turmoil.
(With inputs from AP)