South Korea’s Assembly Impeaches President Yoon Over Martial Law Declaration

South Korea’s National Assembly has impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol over his controversial and short-lived declaration of martial law, plunging the nation into political uncertainty. 

The impeachment vote, conducted on Saturday, saw 204 of the 300 assembly members supporting the motion, with 85 opposing, three abstaining, and eight votes declared invalid.

This marks the second impeachment attempt in just over a week. Unlike the first vote, which failed due to a boycott by Yoon’s conservative People Power Party (PPP), this attempt succeeded with crucial backing from several PPP lawmakers.

The National Assembly Speaker, Woo Won-shik, opened the session by stating, “The weight of history is in the hands of the assembly members.”

Under South Korea’s constitution, Yoon’s impeachment automatically suspends him from office while the Constitutional Court deliberates his fate. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will serve as interim president. The Constitutional Court now has 180 days to decide whether to uphold the impeachment. If it does, Yoon will become only the second South Korean president in history to be removed from office through impeachment, following Park Geun-hye in 2017.

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), described Yoon’s impeachment as essential, stating, “Yoon is the ringleader of the insurrection. This vote is the only way to safeguard the constitution of South Korea.”

Yoon’s impeachment stems from his December 6 martial law declaration, which he revoked hours later amid intense public backlash. The declaration, widely criticized as an overreach of power, came amidst escalating protests against his administration. Since then, Yoon has remained defiant, defending his decision in a televised address on December 12, where he vowed to “fight to the end.”

The Justice Ministry has since prohibited Yoon from leaving the country, as investigations into his declaration and his administration's inner circle continue. Public dissatisfaction has surged, with a Gallup Korea poll showing Yoon’s approval rating plummeting to 11 percent, down from 19 percent in November.

Ahead of the impeachment vote, an estimated 200,000 people gathered in Seoul in rival rallies for and against Yoon. Protesters calling for his removal and arrest chanted outside the National Assembly, holding placards denouncing his leadership. Civic groups have described his administration as a “threat to democracy.” In contrast, a smaller group of supporters defended Yoon, claiming the impeachment process was politically motivated.

The PPP, Yoon’s own party, is grappling with internal divisions. Initially boycotting the first impeachment vote, the party reversed its stance after mounting public pressure. Han Dong-hoon, the PPP leader, called on members to participate in the latest vote, though the party officially opposed impeachment. At least seven PPP lawmakers broke ranks to vote in favor of the motion, securing the necessary two-thirds majority for Yoon’s suspension.

South Korea’s impeachment proceedings evoke memories of Park Geun-hye’s removal from office. Impeached in December 2016 for corruption and abuse of power, Park’s ousting was upheld by the Constitutional Court in March 2017, leading to her imprisonment. 

Analysts have drawn comparisons between Yoon and Park’s political downfalls, noting that both were conservative presidents facing mass protests and plummeting approval ratings.