Ruling by South Korea's Constitutional Court

South Korea Impeaches President Yoon over Martial Law; Prime Minister Han Becomes Acting Leader

Dec 14, 2024, 10:36 AM

South Korea's parliament voted on December 14, 2024, to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law declaration earlier this month. All 300 lawmakers participated in the vote, with 204 supporting the motion, 85 opposing it, three abstaining, and eight votes declared invalid. This marks the third impeachment of a sitting president in South Korea's history and suspends Yoon from his official duties under the constitution. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will serve as acting president during the interim. Hundreds of people took to the streets of Seoul to celebrate the impeachment. The impeachment comes after Yoon's attempt to impose martial law on December 3, which was retracted six hours later, a move that shocked the nation and split his party.