South Korea’s parliament on Saturday, voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking a stunning political development after his ruling party turned against him following his refusal to step down over a controversial martial law attempt.
This impeachment represents the second such instance in under a decade where a South Korean leader has faced proceedings during their time in office, resulting in Yoon being suspended from exercising his powers until the Constitutional Court delivers its final ruling.
The drama unfolded after Yoon briefly declared martial law on December 3, sending soldiers to parliament, where lawmakers fought past troops to vote down the decree.
His gamble backfired, sparking widespread calls for his removal across the nation.
The opposition parties had attempted to impeach Yoon a week earlier, but he survived thanks to a boycott by members of his People Power Party, who hoped the president would resign voluntarily.
However, Yoon doubled down, delivering a defiant speech on Thursday in which he defended his martial law decision, criticized the opposition, and vowed to “fight until the last moment with the people.”
Yet, just moments before his speech, the leader of Yoon’s party withdrew his support and backed impeachment, stating that it was “the only way… to defend democracy,” urging lawmakers to vote with their conscience.
On Saturday, thousands of protesters gathered in Seoul, braving the cold to demand Yoon’s resignation ahead of the vote, which passed with 204 lawmakers in favor and 85 against.
At the same time, Yoon’s supporters rallied in downtown Seoul, waving US and South Korean flags, chanting slogans, and holding signs to show their continued support.
As a result of the impeachment, Yoon has been immediately suspended from his duties, awaiting a ruling by the Constitutional Court, which could take up to six months.
If the court confirms the impeachment, Yoon will become only the second South Korean president to be removed from office after Park Geun-hye, the country’s first female president.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will act as president in the interim, though he too faces political challenges and is under investigation for his role in the martial law decision, adding further uncertainty to the political landscape.
Yoon, a former prosecutor and conservative figure, has faced significant challenges during his two years in office, marked by low approval ratings and political scandals involving his wife and political appointments.
His administration has struggled with political gridlock, with an opposition-majority parliament blocking key reforms such as tax cuts and business regulation changes.
Additionally, Yoon’s government has cracked down on “fake news,” conducting police raids on media outlets and journalists’ homes.
Frustrated by this political deadlock, Yoon made the controversial move to declare martial law, claiming that it was the only way to break the impasse.
However, his actions were met with shock and anger, particularly in a country still scarred by the memories of martial law imposed under military dictatorship in the 1980s.
The fallout from the martial law declaration was dramatic, with security forces attempting to prevent lawmakers from entering the National Assembly, and protesters clashing with riot police.
Since then, pressure has mounted on Yoon, with multiple investigations launched into allegations of treason and abuse of power. On Tuesday, lawmakers approved a special counsel to investigate whether Yoon committed insurrection.
Police raids on the presidential office followed soon after, and Yoon has been barred from leaving the country.
Last week, prosecutors detained former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, who allegedly recommended the martial law imposition and resigned after the scandal broke. Kim later attempted suicide in custody.
Testimonies during hearings have revealed extraordinary details about the night of the martial law decree. For instance, Special Warfare Command Commander Kwak Jong-geun testified that he received an order from Yoon to break into the National Assembly and drag out lawmakers, though he did not comply.
South Korea now faces a period of protracted political uncertainty, reminiscent of the impeachment crisis that occurred in 2016 and 2017, when President Park Geun-hye was removed from office due to corruption allegations. She was later jailed and pardoned.
