Yoon's ouster paves way for presidential election

The whole of South Korea heard the decisive voice of Moon Hyungbae, acting chief of the Constitutional Court, announce live at 11:22 am on Friday: "Ruling: Respondent President Yoon Suk-yeol is hereby removed from office."

The verdict capped months of political chaos that divided the nation, and followed a unanimous decision by the eight justices of the country's Constitutional Court to uphold a motion by the nation's parliament to impeach Yoon over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.

The ruling ends Yoon's presidency after just two years and 11 months, but opens the door to the next national election, as an early presidential election must be held within 60 days, or no later than June 3.