South Korea stands at a pivotal moment in its modern history. The removal, by the country’s Constitutional Court, of President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, following his failed attempt to impose martial law on December 3, is not just the end of a controversial presidency ~ it is a test of the nation’s democratic resilience. While many celebrated his impeachment by Parliament on December 14 as a victory for constitutional order, the deep fractures in South Korean society reveal that this crisis is far from over.

Mr Yoon remained suspended from duty for months, and with snap elections scheduled for June 3, the coming months will determine whether the country can heal from this unprecedented event or whether it will sink further into division and distrust. At the heart of this turmoil is the fear that South Korea’s democratic institutions remain vulnerable to the........

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