South Korea’s president Yoon Suk-yeol impeached

A decisive parliamentary vote
On December 14, South Korean lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol, marking a significant moment in the country’s political history. Of the 300 deputies present, 204 approved the motion, 85 opposed it, three abstained, and eight ballots were declared invalid.

This vote followed Yoon Suk-yeol’s controversial decision on the night of December 3 to 4 to declare martial law—a first in over 40 years. He deployed special forces to the parliament to prevent lawmakers from convening. However, under pressure from 190 deputies and massive public protests, the measure was repealed after just six hours.

Celebrations from the opposition and the public
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered outside the National Assembly erupted in cheers when the results were announced. Park Chan-dae, leader of the Democratic Party group, called the impeachment “a great victory for the people and democracy.”

Yoon Suk-yeol is now officially suspended, but his impeachment must be confirmed by the Constitutional Court within 180 days. In the meantime, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has assumed interim leadership, pledging to ensure “stable governance.”

Origins of the crisis

Martial law shocks the democracy
On December 3, Yoon Suk-yeol justified his decision to impose martial law as a necessary response to “North Korean communist threats” and “hostile elements against the state.” However, his move was widely perceived as a severe assault on democratic institutions.

Days earlier, the opposition-dominated parliament had slashed the national budget, prompting outrage from the president. Yoon accused the assembly of turning South Korea into “a place of chaos” and called it a “criminal parliament” engaged in “legislative dictatorship.”

An unpopular president under fire
The martial law announcement sparked widespread condemnation, even within Yoon Suk-yeol’s own People Power Party (PPP). Some lawmakers walked out of the chamber to block an initial impeachment vote on December 7.

Facing mounting pressure, Yoon issued a public apology, saying, “I will not evade my legal and political responsibilities.” However, his handling of the crisis and inflammatory rhetoric had already eroded public and political trust.

A nation in transition

The Constitutional Court, which previously overturned an impeachment in 2004, has up to six months to rule on Yoon Suk-yeol’s case. In the interim, the nation watches closely as Prime Minister Han Duck-soo steers the government.

This case draws parallels to the 2017 impeachment of Park Geun-hye, the only other South Korean president to face such a fate. Today, South Korea is undergoing a profound reckoning with its democratic institutions under the watchful eye of the international community.