South Korean President Yoon Faces Impeachment as Ruling Party Leader Backs Ouster Over Martial Law

Dec 12, 2024, 09:20 AM

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol faces intense political turmoil following his short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3, which lasted only six hours after being unanimously revoked by the National Assembly. The martial law, the first in over 40 years in South Korea, involved deploying hundreds of armed troops to encircle parliament and raid the National Election Commission, though no major violence occurred. The move has led to widespread protests and calls for his impeachment. Opposition parties, holding a majority in the National Assembly, have submitted a new impeachment motion against Yoon, set for a vote on December 14, after an earlier attempt failed due to a boycott by ruling party lawmakers. Notably, members of his own ruling People Power Party, including party leader Han Dong Hoon, have expressed support for impeachment, increasing the likelihood of its passage. The opposition needs eight more votes to achieve the required two-thirds majority. Yoon, who is under investigation for charges including rebellion and insurrection, has been banned from leaving the country but has not been arrested. In a televised speech on December 12, he defended his actions, stating that the martial law was necessary to protect democracy from "anti-state forces" within the opposition, whom he called "a monster," and vowed to "fight to the end." He accused the opposition of paralyzing state affairs and dismissed allegations of rebellion. Additionally, the National Assembly has passed motions to impeach Justice Minister Park Sung Jae and National Police Agency Chief Cho Ji Ho over their roles in enforcing martial law, suspending them from their duties. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, accused of playing a key role in the martial law declaration, has been arrested and reportedly attempted suicide while in detention but was stopped by correctional officers. Furthermore, the National Assembly passed bills to appoint independent counsels to investigate Yoon's insurrection charges and alleged scandals involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee, including stock price manipulation and interference in election nominations. The political crisis has drawn international attention, with North Korea's state media criticizing Yoon's actions as those of a "fascist dictator," and China's foreign ministry expressing disapproval of Yoon's comments regarding alleged Chinese espionage.