South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached on December 14, marking the end of a tumultuous 11-day period that began with his surprise decision to impose martial law. The impeachment came after a vote in parliament, where 204 out of 300 lawmakers supported removing him from office.
The crisis started when Yoon declared martial law on December 3, citing “anti-state forces” and a need to overcome political deadlock. However, the move was widely criticized by opposition parties and activists, who saw it as an attempt to undermine democracy. The military subsequently issued decrees banning political party activity and restricting lawmakers’ movement.
On December 4, 190 lawmakers voted unanimously to reject Yoon’s declaration, prompting him to lift martial law later that day. Despite this, the opposition continued to press for his removal from office. In the days leading up to the impeachment vote, prosecutors named Yoon as a subject of investigation over the attempted imposition of martial law, and he was barred from leaving the country.
The impeachment process was complicated by divisions within Yoon’s party, the People Power Party (PPP), which initially opposed impeachment but eventually supported it. On December 14, parliament voted to impeach Yoon, with 12 PPP members joining opposition lawmakers in supporting his removal from office.
Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo became acting president. The Constitutional Court will now have six months to decide whether to remove or reinstate him.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korean-president-yoons-political-implosion-martial-law-impeachment-2024-12-15