South Korea's Constitutional Court has affirmed the impeachment of National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho this week, concluding a year-long legal battle stemming from his role in former President Yoon Suk-yeol's controversial 2024 martial law proposal. The December 18 ruling immediately removes Cho from office, marking a significant moment in the nation's ongoing reckoning with political accountability.
The case centers on events from December 2024, when Cho allegedly authorized police blockades preventing lawmakers from entering parliament and deployed forces to election commission offices during constitutional debates. The National Assembly initially approved Cho's impeachment on December 12, 2024, with 179 out of 300 votes.
Legal analysts note this decision reinforces checks on executive power following Yoon's own impeachment last year. "This ruling sets clear boundaries for law enforcement's political neutrality," said Seoul National University constitutional law professor Kim Min-ji in a statement to local media.
The development comes as South Korea prepares for parliamentary elections in April 2026, with opposition parties framing the court's decision as validation of their governance reform agenda. Current President Lee Jae-myung's administration has pledged to implement new police oversight measures in early 2026.
