Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is preparing to vacate his official residence in Seoul’s Hannam-dong district. He will move into his own flat in the Acrovista apartment complex in the Seocho district of the capital’s Seocho-gu municipality on Friday evening, exactly one week after the Constitutional Court approved his removal from the presidency.
Under current law, former presidents removed by impeachment are only entitled to security guards. They forfeit all other privileges such as pension, free transport and medical care.
Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee are considering moving to another location in the capital region in the future, as they have more than a dozen pets living with them. In addition, the presence of security guards may inconvenience neighbours.
On April 4, 2025, South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously approved President Yoon’s impeachment, ending his term of office early.
The crisis began in December 2024 when Yoon unexpectedly imposed martial law and sent troops to parliament in what was seen as a coup attempt. Parliament cancelled martial law and initiated impeachment proceedings. The Constitutional Court ruled the president’s actions unconstitutional, including violating the powers of parliament, infringing on the independence of the judiciary, and illegally using the military for political purposes.
The removal of Yoon opens a new chapter in South Korea’s political history. According to the country’s constitution, early presidential elections must be held within 60 days after the impeachment is approved. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will serve as acting president until a new leader is elected. The acting president has set the date of the presidential election, it will be held on June 3.
