South Korea has entered a period of political uncertainty following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his controversial declaration of martial law earlier this month.
The National Assembly voted on Saturday by an overwhelming 204 to 85 margin to impeach Yoon, effectively suspending his powers and duties. This decision follows widespread public opposition to Yoon’s actions, with at least 200,000 demonstrators gathering outside parliament demanding his removal.
The impeachment process now moves to South Korea’s Constitutional Court, which has 180 days to either uphold the National Assembly’s decision or restore Yoon’s presidency. Should the court dismiss him, a presidential election must be held within 60 days to determine his successor. Until then, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will serve as interim president, steering the nation through this volatile transition.
The Martial Law Crisis
The crisis erupted on December 3 when President Yoon declared martial law, citing a need to prevent what he described as “anti-state” activities by opposition parties controlling the legislature. The decree authorised the deployment of hundreds of troops and police to block lawmakers from convening a vote to reject his decision. However, the measure was swiftly overturned within six hours by parliament, which deemed the move unconstitutional and an overreach of executive power.
Yoon’s justification for the decree—asserting it was a necessary act of governance—failed to garner widespread support, even within his ruling People Power Party (PPP). His refusal to step down in the face of criticism and his combative rhetoric against the opposition further alienated many lawmakers. In Saturday’s impeachment vote, some members of his own party crossed the aisle, enabling the motion to achieve the required two-thirds majority.
Domestic and International Repercussions
The impeachment reflects deep political divisions in South Korea and raises concerns about the stability of its democratic institutions. Analysts caution that the crisis underscores inherent vulnerabilities in presidential systems, especially in societies marked by political polarisation.
“Korean democracy has survived a close call, and other democracies with a presidential form of government should take heed of the lessons from this episode,” said Tom Pepinsky, a professor of government and public policy at Cornell University. He noted that Yoon’s martial law declaration revealed the fragility of the rule of law, especially when a chief executive cannot be easily dismissed through regular legislative mechanisms.
Civil society, the media, and key military leaders played a pivotal role in opposing the martial law decree. “It was fortunate that the declaration was decisively rejected by these groups, preventing violence and preserving democratic norms,” Pepinsky added.
Internationally, the impeachment could have significant implications. South Korea’s strategic role in the region may be affected, particularly as the country navigates trade policy and security issues with the United States under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Trump’s campaign rhetoric included calls for South Korea to bear greater costs for hosting 30,000 U.S. troops on the peninsula and threats to impose higher tariffs on South Korean goods.
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