On December 14, 2023, the South Korean Parliament made history by impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol following his controversial declaration of martial law just over a week prior. The decisive vote saw 204 lawmakers supporting the impeachment push against Yoon, with only 85 opposing, and three lawmakers abstaining from the process. This political turmoil unfolded amid widespread protests against Yoon's attempted power grab, leading to significant unrest both inside and outside the National Assembly.
The martial law decree, enacted on December 3, marked the first time such measures had been put in place since the country’s transition to democracy over 40 years ago. Yoon justified his actions as necessary to restore order and protect democracy, asserting, "I will fight until the end to prevent the forces and criminal groups responsible for halting the government and disturbing the constitutional order of the nation from threatening the future of the Republic of Korea." Despite this assertion, the swift backlash from both the public and political opposition forced Yoon's administration to retract the decree just hours after it was declared.
Public sentiment turned sharply against Yoon as thousands thronged the streets of Seoul, demanding his resignation and criticizing the overreach of his martial law order. Amid the protests, the National Assembly reconvened to discuss the impeachment, leading to the opposition party, the Democratic Party, submitting the motion for impeachment only days after Yoon's martial law decree was rescinded.
Less than 24 hours before the impeachment vote, Yoon attempted to rally support by defending his earlier rounds of governance and labeling the opposition as obstructive. The president described the National Assembly as "a den of criminals" impeding state affairs, playing on sentiments of urgency and desperation as he faced decreasing approval ratings—plummeting to 17%, according to local news reports.
Yoon's previous attempt to stave off impeachment by calling for support from his ruling party fell flat as many members chose to vote their conscience, marking a stark shift from the previous week's attempt, where party members seemingly boycotted the vote altogether. This change of heart among conservative lawmakers helped the opposition secure sufficient votes leading to Yoon's impeachment.
With Yoon now suspended from office, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stepped up as the acting president until the Constitutional Court makes its ruling on the impeachment. That court has up to 180 days to deliberate on whether or not to uphold the Parliament's decision. Should Yoon's impeached status maintain, South Korea could face new presidential elections within 60 days thereafter.
The political crisis places South Korea's democratic integrity under intense scrutiny and pressure, with analysts noting the situation remains fluid. Political scientist Leif-Eric Easley from Ewha University warned, "This is not even the beginning of the end of the political crisis, which will still have to go through the election of a new president." With rumors swirling around potential candidates, including Lee Jae Myung of the Democratic Party, election dynamics may prove complicated, especially considering Lee’s own legal battles related to electoral violations.
Yoon's arguments defending his martial law declaration rested on claims of national emergency and constitutional rights to implement such measures, though many experts have questioned if the situation truly warranted such drastic actions. They argued these measures severely exceeded the parameters of executive power as outlined by the South Korean Constitution.
Outside of the legislative chamber, jubilant supporters of the impeachment celebrated with banners and chants, signifying their relief and hope for democratic restoration. Meanwhile, Yoon's camp remained silent, caught off guard by the speed with which political tides turned against them. Following the announcement of the vote, Yoon issued a statement, vowing, "Even if I stop for now, the road toward the future I have been on for the last two and a half years must never stop. I will never give up." This declaration hints at Yoon’s intentions to remain a relevant figure amid the political fray, even if his presidency hangs on the line.
