South Korea court removes impeached President Yoon from office over martial law declaration

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has been removed from office over his brief martial law declaration last December that saw troops deployed to the National Assembly.Why it matters: The South Korean constitutional court's unanimous ruling on Friday morning local time upholding Parliament's impeachment vote means the country must hold a snap election to replace Yoon within 60 days, per Yonyap news agency.The big picture: Yoon is due to stand trial on insurrection charges in relation to the emergency declaration sparked massive protests and threw the U.S. ally into political turmoil before he rescinded it.He denies any wrongdoing and claimed the declaration was necessary to defend Seoul from "pro-North Korean" elements.Yoon is the first sitting president in South Korea to both be arrested and indicted on criminal charges.State of play: His supporters swarmed the streets of the South Korean capital Seoul and video from the scene showed a heavy police presence as the court's verdict was being delivered.In photos: Yoon impeachment ruling sparks rallies Anti-Yoon protesters react after the Constitutional Court's verdict on the impeachment of South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul. Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images The ousted South Korean president is shown on a big screen as his supporters react to the verdict in Seoul. Photo: Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images Anti-Yoon protesters react to the verdict in Seoul. Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images Supporters of Yoon after the verdict in Seoul. Photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images Police stand guard as Yoon supporter gather before the announcement of the court's verdict on April 4. Photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty ImagesGo deeper: Yoon becomes South Korea's 1st sitting president to be indictedEditor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has been removed from office over his brief martial law declaration last December that saw troops deployed to the National Assembly.Why it matters: The South Korean constitutional court's unanimous ruling on Friday morning local time upholding Parliament's impeachment vote means the country must hold a snap election to replace Yoon within 60 days, per Yonyap news agency.The big picture: Yoon is due to stand trial on insurrection charges in relation to the emergency declaration sparked massive protests and threw the U.

S. ally into political turmoil before he rescinded it.He denies any wrongdoing and claimed the declaration was necessary to defend Seoul from "pro-North Korean" elements.

Yoon is the first sitting president in South Korea to both be arrested and indicted on criminal charges.State of play: His supporters swarmed the streets of the South Korean capital Seoul and video from the scene showed a heavy police presence as the court's verdict was being delivered.In photos: Yoon impeachment ruling sparks rallies Anti-Yoon protesters react after the Constitutional Court's verdict on the impeachment of South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul.

Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images The ousted South Korean president is shown on a big screen as his supporters react to the verdict in Seoul. Photo: Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images Anti-Yoon protesters react to the verdict in Seoul. Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images Supporters of Yoon after the verdict in Seoul.

Photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images Police stand guard as Yoon supporter gather before the announcement of the court's verdict on April 4. Photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty ImagesGo deeper: Yoon becomes South Korea's 1st sitting president to be indictedEditor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout..