South Korean Lawmakers Impeach President Yoon Over Failed Martial Law Attempt

South Korean Lawmakers Impeach President Yoon Over Failed Martial Law Attempt

On December 14, 2024, South Korean lawmakers voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol following his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law…READ MORE…

This decision led the opposition to celebrate what they termed a “victory for the people.”

The impeachment vote occurred amidst large demonstrations in Seoul, where hundreds of thousands gathered for opposing rallies regarding Yoon’s controversial actions on December 3.

Out of 300 lawmakers, 204 voted in favor of the impeachment on charges of insurrection, while 85 opposed it. Three lawmakers abstained, and eight votes were nullified. With his impeachment, Yoon has been suspended from office as the Constitutional Court of South Korea reviews the case. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has assumed the role of interim leader.

The court has 180 days to make a ruling on Yoon’s future. The impeachment required at least 200 votes to pass, necessitating support from at least eight members of Yoon’s own conservative People Power Party (PPP).

Following the vote, opposition Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae proclaimed, “Today’s impeachment is the great victory of the people.” A Seoul police official reported that approximately 200,000 demonstrators had gathered outside Parliament in support of the impeachment, while around 30,000 showed up near Gwanghwamun Square to back Yoon, waving South Korean and American flags and playing patriotic music.

Supporters like Choi Hee-sun, 62, were vocal in their backing of Yoon, saying, “Yoon had no choice but to declare martial law. I approve of every decision he has made as president.”

The Democratic Party had argued before the vote that impeachment was essential to protect the Constitution, the rule of law, democracy, and the future of South Korea. “We can no longer endure Yoon’s madness,” spokesperson Hwang Jung-a stated.

During the rally in favor of impeachment, volunteers distributed hand warmers, food, and coffee to counter the freezing temperatures. K-pop singer Yuri from the band Girl’s Generation, whose song “Into the New World” has become a protest anthem, announced that she had pre-paid for food for fans joining the demonstration.

Protesters also took measures to make the event family-friendly, with one individual renting a bus to provide a space for parents to change diapers and care for their babies.

If the Constitutional Court affirms his impeachment, Yoon would become the second South Korean president to be successfully impeached, following the precedent set in the case of Roh Moo-hyun in 2004, who was reinstated by the court after his removal by parliament.

Currently, the Constitutional Court consists of only six judges, which means a unanimous decision is required for a ruling. Yoon has expressed defiance amid the turmoil surrounding his martial law declaration and ongoing investigations into his administration. His approval rating has drastically fallen, sitting at 11 percent, according to a Gallup Korea poll, which also indicated that 75 percent of respondents now support his impeachment.

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