Ousted leader Yoon loses reckless gamble with martial law

SOUTH Korea's ousted leader Yoon Suk Yeol, a brash ex-prosecutor who came to power by repeatedly defying setbacks and taking gambles, ultimately fell victim to political recklessness that led him to impose martial law, former colleagues say.

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Dogged by personal scandals involving his wife, a bitter row with political opponents whom he called communist sympathisers, and partyroom rifts, Yoon was removed from the presidency yesterday in the third year of his five-year term.

The Constitutional Court upheld Yoon's impeachment by parliament, ruling unanimously that he violated his constitutional duty by briefly declaring martial law on December 3 with no justifiable grounds.

Yoon, 64, still faces a criminal trial on charges of masterminding insurrection when he mobilised troops to try to shut down an opposition-led parliament that he accused of trying to destroy the country.