The year 2024 has brought significant global upheaval, with South Korea now at the center of a major political crisis. President Yoon Suk Yeol, embroiled in controversy over his leadership, was impeached following a second parliamentary vote.
This dramatic development comes in the wake of a failed attempt to shut down the South Korean Parliament last December and a brief declaration of martial law that further deepened political tensions.
The impeachment motion passed with 204 votes in favor, 85 against, three abstentions, and eight invalid ballots. Notably, 12 members of Yoon’s own conservative People Power Party broke ranks to support the motion.
For now, Yoon remains in office but with his presidential powers suspended. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has assumed the role of acting president while the Constitutional Court reviews the case. The court has six months to decide whether to permanently remove Yoon from office. Should that happen, a snap presidential election will be called.
This marks the second impeachment of a conservative South Korean president in recent years, following the ousting of Park Geun-hye in 2017.
In a defiant statement, Yoon vowed to continue his fight, saying, “Although I am stopping for now, the journey I have walked with the people over the past two and a half years toward the future must never come to a halt. I will never give up.”
Yoon’s presidency has been marred by personal scandals, fierce opposition, and growing divisions within his own party. His critics argue that his declaration of martial law was an extreme overreach of power aimed at stifling dissent.
The martial law, which Yoon justified as a means to combat “anti-state forces,” was rescinded just six hours after its declaration. Parliamentarians, defying troops and police, dramatically entered the chambers to vote against the decree.
Opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung joined jubilant crowds near the parliament to celebrate the impeachment. Addressing protesters who braved subfreezing temperatures, Lee said, “You, the people, made it. You are writing a new history.”
The impeachment has energized South Korea’s opposition movement, which has accused Yoon of undermining democracy through his controversial policies and heavy-handed approach to governance.
Yoon now faces a criminal investigation on allegations of “insurrection” related to the martial law declaration. Authorities have also imposed a travel ban on him, restricting his movement while the investigation continues.
In another speech on Thursday, Yoon defended his actions, calling the martial law decree necessary to resolve political gridlock and protect South Korea’s democracy from internal threats. He vowed to “fight to the end” to prove the legitimacy of his decisions.
As the Constitutional Court deliberates on Yoon’s future, South Korea faces an uncertain political landscape. The impeachment has highlighted deep divisions within the country and has cast a spotlight on the broader challenges of governance and democracy.
With Yoon’s presidency now in limbo, the outcome of the court’s decision will determine the nation’s trajectory in the coming months. For now, the impeachment represents a significant moment in South Korea’s democratic history, underscoring the power of its political institutions and the resilience of its citizens.