South Korea’s parliament on Saturday impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for his stunningly brief martial law decree, a move that ended days of political paralysis but sparked intense debate over Yoon’s fate, as jubilant crowds roared to celebrate another challenging moment in the country’s resilient democracy.
The National Assembly approved the motion 204-85. Yoon’s presidential powers and duties were subsequently suspended and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country’s No. 2 official, assumed presidential powers later on Saturday.
The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to determine whether to remove Yoon as president or restore his powers. If he is removed from office, national elections must be held to elect his successor within 60 days.
It was the National Assembly’s second vote on Yoon’s impeachment after ruling party lawmakers boycotted the first floor vote last Saturday. Some People Power Party lawmakers had since said they would vote to impeach Yoon as public protests intensified and his approval rating plummeted.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik said Yoon’s removal was an outcome driven by “the people’s ardent desire for democracy, courage and dedication.”
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered near parliament roared in joy, waving banners and brandishing colorful K-pop glow sticks, as a prominent activist shouted on stage: “We have preserved the constitutional order!”
“The dismissal has been carried out in accordance with the people’s demand and I hope that the decision to remove Yoon Suk Yeol will be made as soon as possible,” said Kim Su-bong, a protester. “I am very happy and moved. “I see it as a victory for the people.”
In a central square in Seoul, another large crowd gathered in support of Yoon, but they subsided after learning that he had been charged.
Acting leader reinforces country’s security posture
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Yoon issued a statement saying he would “never give up” and called on officials to maintain stability in government functions during what he described as a “temporary” pause in his presidency.
“I will take with me all the criticism, encouragement and support that is directed at me and will continue to do my best for the country until the last moment,” Yoon said.
Yoon’s imposition of martial law on December 3, the first of its kind in more than four decades in South Korea, lasted just six hours but caused massive political tumult, halted diplomatic activities and shook markets. financial. Yoon was forced to lift his decree after parliament voted unanimously to revoke it.
Han, the interim leader, ordered the military to strengthen its security posture to prevent North Korea from launching miscalculated provocations. Han asked the foreign minister to inform other countries that South Korea’s main foreign policies remain unchanged, and the finance minister to work to minimize potential negative impacts on the economy from political turmoil, according to the office. They have.
“I sincerely ask this of public servants. “At this time, we have the critical task of ensuring the normal and stable operation of state affairs… I ask you to fulfill your duties without any negligence to ensure that the government functions without being shaken,” Han said in a statement. televised.
South Korea’s executive power is concentrated in the president, but the prime minister leads the country if the president becomes incapacitated. Han is an experienced civil servant and previously held a number of senior government positions, including commerce minister and finance minister. He was also prime minister between 2007 and 2008.
U.S. Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg wrote in X that the United States 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 remains unaffected.”
After declaring martial law, Yoon sent hundreds of troops and police to parliament to try to prevent the vote on the decree, before withdrawing after parliament rejected Yoon’s decree. No major acts of violence occurred.
Opposition parties accuse Yoon of rebellion, citing a law that classifies as rebellion the organization of a riot against state authorities established to undermine the constitution. They also say that a president in South Korea can declare martial law only during times of war or similar emergencies and has no right to suspend parliament operations even under martial law.
The impeachment motion alleged that Yoon “committed a rebellion that harmed peace in the Republic of Korea by organizing a series of riots.” He said Yoon’s mobilization of military and police forces threatened the National Assembly and the public and that his martial law decree was aimed at altering the constitution.
Yoon remains defiant
In a fiery speech on Thursday, Yoon rejected accusations of rebellion and called the introduction of martial law an act of government. Conservative Yoon said he intended to issue a warning to the main liberal opposition party, the Democratic Party, calling it “a monster” and “anti-state forces” who he said have exerted their legislative muscle to remove many senior officials and undermine the project. of government budget law. for next year. He stated that the deployment of troops was aimed at maintaining order, rather than disrupting it.
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung called Yoon’s speech a “crazy declaration of war” against his own people.
Observers say Yoon’s speech suggested focusing on legal preparations to defend his martial law decree before the Constitutional Court, even as opinion polls showed more than 70% of South Koreans supported his impeachment. A poll released on Friday put Yoon’s approval rating at 11%, the lowest since he took office in 2022.
Some of Yoon’s claims do not align with the testimony of some military commanders whose troops were deployed to the Assembly.
Kwak Jong-keun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, said Yoon had ordered his troops to “quickly destroy the gate and drag out the lawmakers inside.” Kwak said he did not comply with 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 removed her from office.
In 2004, President Roh Moo-hyun was impeached before parliament for allegedly violating electoral law, but the court later overturned his impeachment and restored his presidential powers.
Yoon has been banned from leaving South Korea. Yoon’s defense minister and police chief and two other senior figures have been arrested under martial law.
He has the presidential privilege of immunity from criminal prosecution, but that does not extend to accusations of rebellion or treason. But observers doubt that authorities will detain him by force because of the possibility of clashes with his presidential security service.
