The South Korean parliament initiated impeachment proceedings on Saturday President Yoon Suk Yeol about its breathtaking and short-lived martial law decreea move that ended days of political paralysis but sparked intense debate over Yoon’s fate as cheering crowds cheered to mark another defiant moment in the country’s resilient democracy.
The National Assembly passed the motion by a vote of 204-85. As a result, Yoon’s powers and duties as president were suspended and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country’s second-largest official, assumed presidential powers later on Saturday.
The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to decide whether to remove Yoon as president or restore his powers. If he is thrown out of office, a nationwide election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days.
It was the second vote in the National Assembly on Yoon’s removal from office, after ruling party lawmakers boycotted the first floor vote last Saturday. Some People Power Party lawmakers had since said they would vote for Yoon’s impeachment as public protests grew and his approval ratings fell.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik said Yoon’s removal from office was a result borne of “the people’s fervent desire for democracy, courage and dedication.”
Woohae Cho/AP
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered near Parliament roared in cheers, waving banners and waving colorful flags K-pop glow sticksas a leading activist shouted on stage: “We have preserved the constitutional order!”
“The impeachment was in line with the people’s demand and I hope that a decision to dismiss Yoon Suk Yeol will be made as soon as possible,” said Kim Su-bong, a protester. “I am very happy and moved. I consider it a victory for the people.”
Another huge crowd gathered in a central Seoul square in support of Yoon, but they became subdued when they learned he had been charged.
The incumbent leader is strengthening the country’s security situation
Yoon issued a statement saying he would “never give up” and urged officials to maintain stability in government functions during what he called a “temporary” pause in his presidency.
“I will carry with me all criticism, encouragement and support directed at me and continue to do my utmost for the country until the very last moment,” Yoon said.
Yoon’s declaration of martial law on December 3, the first of its kind in more than four decades in South Korea, only lasted six hoursbut has caused massive political unrest, brought diplomatic activity to a standstill and rocked financial markets. Yoon was forced to rescind his decree after parliament voted unanimously to repeal it.
Lee Jin-man / AP
Han, the acting leader, ordered the military to strengthen its security posture to prevent North Korea from launching provocations through misjudgments. Han urged the foreign minister to inform other countries that South Korea’s key foreign policies remain unchanged and urged the finance minister to work to minimize any potential negative impact of the political unrest on the economy, according to Han’s office.
“I ask the officials that seriously. At this moment, we have the crucial task of ensuring the normal and stable operation of state affairs…I ask you to carry out your duties without any negligence to ensure that the government functions without shocks,” Han said in an im Televised statement.
South Korea’s executive power is concentrated in the president, but the prime minister runs the country when the president becomes incapacitated. Han is an experienced civil servant and has previously held a number of high-ranking government positions, including trade minister and finance minister. He was also Prime Minister from 2007 to 2008.
U.S. Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg wrote on X that the U.S. supports South Korea’s “democratic and constitutional process here and stands with its people.” Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters on Saturday that Tokyo was closely monitoring developments in South Korea but said “the importance of Japan-South Korea relations will not be affected.”
After declaring martial law, Yoon sent Hundreds of soldiers and police officers to Parliament to prevent its vote on the decree, before withdrawing after Parliament rejected Yoon’s decree. There was no major violence.
Opposition parties accuse Yoon of rebellion, citing a law that classifies the staging of an uprising against established state authorities to undermine the constitution as rebellion. They also say that a president in South Korea can only declare martial law in times of war or similar emergencies, and even under martial law has no right to suspend the work of parliament.
The impeachment motion alleged that Yoon “committed a rebellion that damaged the peace in the Republic of Korea by staging a series of riots.” It said that Yoon’s mobilization of military and police forces posed a threat to the National Assembly and the public and that his martial law decree was aimed at disrupting the constitution.
Yoon remains defiant
In a fiery speech on Thursday, Yoon rejected accusations of rebellion and called the imposition of martial law an act of government. Conservative Yoon said he wanted to send a warning to the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, calling it “a monster” and “anti-state forces” that he said were flexing their legislative muscles to impeach many top officials and overturn the government’s budget proposal to undermine for next year. He claimed that the use of troops was to maintain order and not to disrupt it.
Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung called Yoon’s speech a “crazy declaration of war” against his own people.
Observers say Yoon’s speech suggested the focus was on legal preparations to defend his martial law decree in the Constitutional Court, even though opinion polls showed more than 70% of South Koreans supported his impeachment. A poll released Friday showed Yoon’s approval rating at 11%, the lowest since he took office in 2022.
Some of Yoon’s claims do not match those of some military commanders whose troops were stationed in the gathering.
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Kwak Jong-keun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, said Yoon asked his troops to “quickly destroy the door and pull out the lawmakers inside.” Kwak said he didn’t follow Yoon’s order.
Yoon is the third South Korean president to be impeached while in office. In 2016, Parliament impeached Park Geun-hye, the country’s first female president, over a corruption scandal. The Constitutional Court confirmed her impeachment and dismissed her from office.
In 2004, President Roh Moo-hyun was impeached in parliament for an alleged violation of election law, but the court later overturned his impeachment and restored his presidential powers.
Yoon was banned from leaving South Korea. Yoon’s defense minister and police chief, as well as two other high-ranking figures, were arrested on war-related law enforcement charges.
He enjoys the presidential privilege of immunity from criminal prosecution, but this does not apply to allegations of rebellion or treason. However, observers doubt that authorities will use force to arrest him, as it could lead to clashes with the presidential security service.
