Dark history of South Korean presidents: Exiled, impeached, shot, jailed

South Korea's ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol apologised on Friday after the country's Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment.

Yoon was suspended from duty in December 2024 after being impeached by parliament, following his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country.

"I am truly sorry and heartbroken that I was unable to meet your expectations," he said in a short statement released after the court announced its unanimous verdict.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Now, a snap election to vote for Yoon's replacement must be held by June 3. Until then, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will remain as acting president. The new president will take office as soon as the National Election Commission declares the results.

Now, along with the impeachment, Yoon is also being investigated for treason over his botched martial law attempt last December.

However, this is not the only political crisis, South Korea has seen.

Previous leaders have also been a part of political turmoil and disorders.

Since the country was founded after World War II, almost all the presidents of South Korea have faced serious allegations against them or their family members. Some of them faced impeachment, some prosecution, some prison and even assassination.

Only a few presidents, including the most recent former leader, Moon Jae-in, had a peaceful departure.

C. Harrison Kim, an associate professor of Korean history at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said, “It has been the case that almost all South Korean presidents or their families have had a corrupt side. Almost all of them."

“But what is interesting is that the South Korean public cannot stand for that, and almost always, someone will have to pay — and it’s often the presidents themselves," Kim added.

“South Koreans have no qualms about taking down a leader,” he said.

List of South Korean leaders who faced dramatic end in politics

South Korean President Syngman Rhee came into power in 1948 as the first president of an infant republic, created after World War II.

However, he was forced to resign in 1960 due to a massive student-led uprising and forced into exile in Hawaii, where he died in 1965.

Park Geun-hye, the country's first female president, was impeached by Parliament in 2016 and was later imprisoned.

She faced accusations of accepting or soliciting tens of millions of dollars from conglomerates like Samsung.

Additional allegations were also imposed on Geun-hye, including leaking classified documents, blacklisting artists critical of her policies, and dismissing officials who opposed her.

Park Chung-hee, South Korea's dictator, was assassinated in October 1979, by Kim Jae-gyu, his spy chief, during a private dinner.

Following Park's death, army generals Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo plotted a coup in December 1979, which further plunged South Korea into political turmoil.

President Yun Po-sun was ousted in a military coup in 1961, which was orchestrated by army officer Park Chung-hee.

Initially, Yun was allowed to remain in office, but Park effectively seized control of the government.

(With inputs from agencies)