Janice R. Andrews
In a dramatic turn of events, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been impeached by lawmakers, marking a significant moment in the country’s political landscape. The vote, which passed with 204 supporters, effectively suspended the president’s powers and triggered a constitutional review process.
The impeachment stems from Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law, which lawmakers and critics viewed as an unconstitutional attempt to suppress political opposition. Leaked military documents suggested that the martial law order was not merely symbolic, as Yoon claimed, but a premeditated plan involving potential arrests and violence.
With 12 members of Yoon’s own conservative party supporting the impeachment, the move represents a profound fracture in his political support. Demonstrators outside the National Assembly celebrated the decision, viewing it as a triumph for democratic principles.
This is the second presidential impeachment in South Korean history, following Park Geun-hye’s removal in 2017. The Constitutional Court will now review the impeachment, a process that could take up to six months. If upheld, Yoon could face serious legal consequences, including potential charges of insurrection that are not protected by presidential immunity.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will serve as acting president during this interim period. The nation now awaits the Constitutional Court’s final decision, which will determine whether a snap election will be called and how this political crisis will ultimately be resolved.
The impeachment marks a dramatic fall from grace for Yoon, who was once perceived as a defender of democratic values but is now facing allegations of authoritarianism and constitutional overreach.
