UPDATE: After surviving one impeachment attempt, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s luck ran out Saturday when parliament voted 204-85 to suspend his powers, marking a dramatic turn in the political crisis sparked by his controversial Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The vote, which saw members of Yoon’s own People Power Party break ranks amid plunging approval ratings and mounting public protests, kicks off what could be a 180-day deliberation by the Constitutional Court to determine whether to permanently remove him from office, per the Associated Press.
If the court upholds the impeachment, South Koreans will head to the polls within 60 days to elect a new president. The vote represents a stunning reversal from just a week ago, when Yoon dodged impeachment thanks to his party’s boycott of the first parliamentary vote. His fortunes shifted as public outrage intensified and key members of his own party jumped ship, setting the stage for Saturday’s historic rebuke.
PREVIOUSLY: Embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol narrowly escaped an opposition-led impeachment attempt late on Saturday following his controversial six-hour martial law declaration earlier this week. According to AP, the impeachment motion failed when most ruling party lawmakers boycotted the vote, denying the two-thirds majority needed in the 300-seat National Assembly.
Despite Yoon’s public apology and promise to accept “legal and political responsibility” for the decree, his position remains precarious amid revelations that he allegedly ordered arrests of key political figures during the martial law period, including opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and even his own party chief Han Dong-hoon. The Democratic Party has vowed to file a new impeachment motion when parliament reconvenes Wednesday, while massive protests both for and against Yoon have erupted in Seoul.
EARLIER: In a whirlwind political drama that played out overnight in South Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law lasted barely six hours before he was forced to back down early Wednesday morning, marking a stunning reversal that has left his presidency on shakier ground than ever.
The crisis reached its climax when troops surrounded parliament, only to be met with defiant lawmakers who swiftly voted to reject military rule. In scenes reminiscent of 1980s-era political upheaval, protesters faced off with soldiers outside the National Assembly, with one woman confronting troops while attempting to grab a rifle and shouting, “Aren’t you embarrassed?,” according to AP.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declared the martial law declaration “invalid,” with parliament standing firm in its promise to “protect democracy with the people.” The military presence was withdrawn around 4:30 a.m. following a Cabinet meeting that formally lifted the order.
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and his lawmakers staged a dramatic holdout in the Assembly’s main hall until Yoon’s order was officially rescinded. Adding intrigue to the political theater, Democratic lawmaker Jo Seung-lae claimed security footage suggested troops were positioning to arrest not only opposition figures but also Han Dong-hoon, the leader of Yoon’s own People Power Party.
While retreating from his martial law declaration, Yoon maintained his criticism of parliament, accusing lawmakers of “unscrupulous acts of legislative and budgetary manipulation that are paralyzing the functions of the state.”
The overnight crisis drew hundreds of protesters to the Assembly, with some clashing with troops before the parliamentary vote. Despite minor scuffles and one broken window at the Assembly building, no serious injuries were reported.
Constitutional experts have questioned whether South Korea’s current political situation met the legal threshold for martial law, which requires “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states.”
The six-hour crisis marks another setback for Yoon, whose administration continues to face challenges from the opposition-controlled parliament amid declining approval ratings and mounting pressure over various political scandals.
INITIAL STORY: In a dramatic turn that rocked the Korean peninsula’s political landscape, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol dropped a bombshell late Tuesday evening local time by declaring “emergency martial law,” setting the stage for a high-stakes political showdown in one of Asia’s key democracies, according to AP.
During a televized address, Yoon vowed to “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order,” while painting his opposition as North Korea sympathizers who are paralyzing the government.
The political drama intensified as even Yoon’s own party chief, Han Dong-hoon, broke ranks and branded the decision “wrong,” promising to “stop it with the people.” Meanwhile, opposition heavyweight Lee Jae-myung, who nearly clinched the presidency in 2022, swiftly condemned Yoon’s move as “illegal and unconstitutional.”
“Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the depths of national ruin,” Yoon declared in his broadcast, asking citizens to stomach “some inconveniences” while he “normalizes” the country.
Yoon’s administration has been grappling with multiple challenges, including a parliament controlled by the opposition Democratic Party and declining approval ratings. The political gridlock has particularly manifested in battles over next year’s budget and attempts by the opposition to impeach three senior prosecutors. Yoon has also been deflecting calls for independent probes into scandals involving his wife and top officials.
The Democratic Party has reportedly convened an emergency session in response to his announcement.
The implications of this martial law declaration for South Korea’s governance and democratic institutions remain unclear as the political standoff unfolds.
South Korea is known for its vibrant entertainment industry with the world keenly anticipating Season 2 of Netflix’s global hit series “Squid Game,” which is due over Christmas.
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