Official announcement from the South Korean National Assembly or major news outlets

South Korea's President Yoon Defends Martial Law, Faces Impeachment as Ruling Party Calls for Vote

Dec 13, 2024, 12:00 AM

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has defended his controversial decision to declare martial law, calling it a legal move to protect democracy amid growing political turmoil. This declaration, which lasted only six hours, involved deploying soldiers to surround the parliament and invade the electoral commission, but did not result in significant violence or injuries. Yoon's actions have led to widespread protests, calls for his impeachment, and investigations into possible insurrection charges. The opposition parties, led by the Democratic Party, argue that the martial law was unconstitutional and have submitted a new joint motion for Yoon's impeachment. Yoon has vowed to fight any impeachment attempts, asserting that his martial law order was a legitimate exercise of his constitutional powers. His approval ratings have plummeted, and the Constitutional Court will decide on his removal if the impeachment motion passes. The situation has escalated with the ruling People Power Party leader, Han Dong-hoon, urging lawmakers to vote for Yoon's impeachment, marking a significant shift in the party's stance. Yoon also alleged, without evidence, that North Korea had hacked South Korea's election commission, casting doubt on the integrity of the April 2024 election.