South Korea's Yoon Faces Impeachment Vote After Martial Law Sparks Crisis

Dec 13, 2024, 03:19 AM

South Korea is facing a political crisis following President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law last week. The move has sparked widespread opposition, leading to a significant drop in Yoon's approval ratings—the lowest since he took office. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has called impeachment the fastest way to restore order in the country, with a parliamentary vote scheduled for Saturday. Members of Yoon's own ruling party are reportedly backing the impeachment push, raising concerns about a possible split within the party. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the martial law declaration, raiding the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police and considering issuing an arrest warrant against the president for alleged insurrection charges. Yoon has been accused of ordering the arrest of opposition lawmakers, with the police commissioner alleging that Yoon instructed him six times to detain members of the National Assembly. Reports indicate that Yoon secured the legal basis for martial law in just a five-minute cabinet meeting, leaving cabinet members stunned. The martial law was lifted after a tense six-hour standoff at the National Assembly. Yoon has defended his actions as an act of governance and vowed to 'fight to the end' against the impeachment efforts. Amid growing corruption allegations and calls for protests from trade unions, civil society organizations, and universities, his presidency faces intense scrutiny. There are increasing calls for a 'candlelight revolution' similar to previous mass protests. Yoon has also accused the opposition of obstructing state actions against Chinese espionage, North Korean electoral interference, organized crime, and drug trafficking.