South Korea's constitutional court has unanimously voted to uphold the impeachment of president Yoon Suk Yeol
There were tears of joy and sadness amongst pro-Yoon and anti-Yoon supporters, who had taken to the streets ahead of the verdict. Police are on standby in case of any violent protests
In his first remarks after the verdict, Yoon says he is "truly sorry" for failing to live up to the people's expectations
His short-lived declaration of martial law last December plunged the country into political turmoil
His powers were first suspended when parliament voted to impeach him on 14 December
Some of those closest to Yoon described the former president as having an explosive personality from a young age, adding that he often "did as he pleased... [and] was stubborn to the core"
Now that Yoon is impeached, a snap election must be held within 60 days
Yoon also faces a separate charge of insurrection which will go on trial at a later date
Watch: South Koreans react as Yoon's impeachment is upheld
South Korea's acting president Han Duck-soo has issued an emergency order to maintain public safety, local media reported.
He says that his administration would maintain a solid security posture and avoid leaving a vacuum in the country's security and diplomacy.
Han will continue serving as the country's interim leader before the next president is elected.
Leehyun Choi
Yoon Suk Yeol's supporters have reacted in anger, calling the court's decision "absolutely unacceptable".
"It signals [the] total collapse of Korean society," claimed 60-year-old Kim Yongtae.
"We are ruled under the opposition... the people must rise up to reclaim democracy and freedom in this country. I will never forgive the judges, who are clearly corrupt."
Earlier, as the judge read out his reasonings, we heard deep sighs and cursing amongst Yoon's supporters.
One woman had shouted "Liar, the judges are all liars".
The mood has turned from anxiety to euphoria at the anti-Yoon rally. Many of the protesters joined demonstrations since last December, calling for Yoon to be removed from office for his martial law declaration. Now they are celebrating with Yoon permanently gone.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Jean Mackenzie
Seoul correspondent
Now we have a verdict, the immediate question is: will Yoon and his supporters accept it?
Yoon and his lawyers have fought the courts at every step, accusing the legal system of being broken. His fanatically loyal supporters have claimed the courts are biased.
If they refuse to accept today’s impeachment, South Korea’s political crisis could get messier.
Even if Yoon does concede, Korea is now worryingly divided, and heading towards an undoubtedly fraught election.
Thanks to unfounded conspiracy theories, more than a quarter of people believe that the previous election was rigged and no longer trust the voting system.
Some people will tell you today’s verdict shows that South Korea’s democracy and its institutions have triumphed. But there are others who are still concerned, who think his martial law declaration exposed flaws in the system.
3 December has fundamentally changed South Korea. Martial law is no longer something hidden away in its dark dictatorial past. It is a real threat; a tool that can be brandished by zealous politicians.
There are now serious calls to change South Korea’s constitution – to strengthen its institutions and limit the powers of the president, to protect against this happening again.
For now, how Yoon responds could determine how quickly South Korea can recover.
Simon Atkinson
I imagine this would be the sort of scene if South Korea ever wins the World Cup.
Thousands of people watching a TV screen in a square in the city centre leapt up and down when the final verdict was read out, as if a winning goal was scored.
Now, after the final whistle, they are breaking into small groups dancing in circles. One even has a bubble machine.
Hundreds of flags are being waved.
The opposition Democratic Party has described today's verdict as a great victory for the people, South Korean news agency Yonhap reports.
"The whole process of this trial itself was not lawful and unfair," says Yoon Gap-geun, Yoon's attorney.
"And the result is something that we completely don't understand from the perspective of law," he told reporters after the ruling.
"I feel regrettable that this completely is a political decision," he added.
We've just heard from Yoon's ruling People Power Party - they've said they accept the court's results and apologise to the Korean people.
"It's a victory for the Constitution, democracy and the people," Jung Chung-rae, the Democratic Party lawmaker who served as the impeachment prosecutor in the trial, says after the ruling.
"I want to thank the people, who defeated the enemy of the democracy using the democracy," he added.
Image source, David Oh/BBCYoon supporters cried out in anger and disappointment at the verdict
Meanwhile our BBC correspondents with the pro-Yoon camp are reporting widespread anger and tears, as news of Yoon's removal from office is setting in. Boos and cries can be heard across the crowd.
"It doesn't make sense!" a young man shouted.
"Korea is over," declared another.
The anti-Yoon crowd has exploded into cheers, with many hugging each other and waving their flags vigorously. The mood on the ground is jubilant, with one BBC correspondent saying it is as if the South Korean team has won the World Cup.
The verdict is in: the panel of judges in the Constitutional Court have unanimously voted to uphold Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.
This means he is immediately removed from his position as president. The country now has 60 days to hold a snap election to replace him.
Yoon's implementation of martial law "damaged people's basic political rights", Justice Moon has gone on to say, adding that it "violated the principles of the rule of law and democracy".
Yoon's deployment of troops to enforce martial law "infringed on the validity of the National Assembly", Justice Moon says, referring to South Korea's parliament.
"He did not uphold his duties and went against the people they were supposed to protect," he says.
The court has found that Yoon's exercise of "national emergency powers" was not justified, the judge said.
"There was no existence of the national emergency situation," says Justice Moon Hyung-bae, who is acting president of the constitutional court.
"It was a situation that could have been solved through other means other than military deployment," he says.
President Yoon did not follow procedures when he implemented martial law, the judge says.
The judge is now going through the arguments from both sides - those who support and those who are against the impeachment. The debate was over whether Yoon's declaration of martial law was unconstitutional. The conclusion of the verdict is expected to be delivered shortly.
The eight Constitutional Court judges have entered the chamber. One of them has started delivering the verdict. Stay with us as we bring you the latest.
David Oh
BBC Korean Service
Image source, David Oh/BBCCrowds watching the verdict on the big screen
Just minutes from now, the fate of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol will be decided.
South Korea’s Constitutional Court is set to rule at 11:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on whether to remove him from office or reinstate him.
If the court upholds the impeachment, Yoon will be officially ousted, and a new presidential election must be held within two months.
If reinstated, he will immediately resume his duties.
While the ruling will determine Yoon’s political future, it won’t put an end to the unrest sparked by his short-lived imposition of martial law.
Tensions are already high, with thousands of pro- and anti-Yoon demonstrators taking to the streets in Seoul.
Police are on full alert for potential clashes, and the highest-level ‘Gap-ho emergency’ has been declared nationwide, allowing for the full mobilisation of security forces.
Just minutes ago Yoon's legal team entered the courthouse, stopping briefly to speak to reporters.
"All Yoon has done was exercise the emergency presidential power given to him by the Constitution, amidst the opposition and pro-North leftist force's attempt at paralysing the government," said Yoon Gap-geun, the impeached president's attorney.
"We fully made this case during the trial. We understand that the judges fully understand this. We anticipate their wise judgement."
As we've reported earlier, Yoon is not expected to attend the ruling in person due to security concerns.
