South Korea plunged into political turmoil on Saturday as its parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol following his controversial declaration of martial law earlier this month.
The decision, which suspends Yoon from office pending a Constitutional Court ruling, marks the second impeachment of a South Korean president in less than a decade.
The drama began on December 3 when Yoon declared martial law, sending soldiers to parliament in an unprecedented move to break a political deadlock. Lawmakers fought past the troops to vote down the decree, igniting widespread outrage and calls for his resignation.
Initially, Yoon survived an impeachment attempt last week, as his ruling People Power Party boycotted the vote, hoping he would step down voluntarily. However, Yoon remained defiant, delivering a speech on Thursday where he justified his martial law decision, criticized opposition leaders, and vowed to “fight until the last moment with the people.”
Yoon’s position weakened when the leader of his own party withdrew support, calling impeachment “the only way… to defend democracy” and urging lawmakers to act according to their conscience.
On Saturday, thousands of protesters braved the cold in Seoul, demanding Yoon’s resignation as parliament convened. After heated debates, the motion passed with 204 lawmakers in favor and 85 against. Simultaneously, Yoon’s supporters rallied downtown, waving South Korean and U.S. flags and holding signs of solidarity with the president.
The impeachment suspends Yoon from office, handing interim presidential duties to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. However, Han faces his own political challenges and is under investigation for his involvement in the martial law decision. The Constitutional Court has up to six months to rule on the impeachment.
If the court upholds the decision, Yoon will become only the second South Korean leader removed from office after Park Geun-hye, impeached in 2017 over corruption allegations.
A former prosecutor and conservative figure, Yoon’s presidency has been marred by political scandals, low approval ratings, and an opposition-majority parliament that has blocked his key reforms. Yoon’s administration has also faced criticism for cracking down on “fake news,” including police raids on media outlets and journalists.
Frustrated by this gridlock, Yoon declared martial law, describing it as a necessary step to overcome legislative impasses. The decision shocked the nation, with memories still fresh of the martial law imposed during South Korea’s military dictatorship in the 1980s.
The fallout from Yoon’s martial law declaration was swift and dramatic. Security forces attempted to block lawmakers from entering the National Assembly, sparking clashes with protesters. Investigations into alleged treason and abuse of power quickly followed.
On Tuesday, lawmakers approved a special counsel to investigate whether Yoon committed insurrection. Shortly after, police raided the presidential office, and Yoon was barred from leaving the country.
Former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, accused of recommending the martial law, was detained last week and later attempted suicide while in custody. Testimonies during hearings have revealed alarming details, including claims by Special Warfare Command Commander Kwak Jong-geun that Yoon ordered him to storm the National Assembly and drag out lawmakers. Kwak reportedly refused to comply.
South Korea now faces a period of significant political uncertainty. The situation has drawn comparisons to the impeachment crisis of 2016-2017, when Park Geun-hye was ousted, jailed, and later pardoned.
