South Korea’s National Assembly has voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol following his failed attempt to impose martial law on December 3, 2024.
The impeachment vote, which took place on Saturday, was met with massive protests across Seoul, with hundreds of thousands of citizens rallying both for and against the president’s removal.
A total of 204 lawmakers voted in favor of the impeachment, accusing Yoon of insurrection, while 85 lawmakers voted against it.
Three lawmakers abstained from the vote, and eight votes were declared invalid.
As a result of the vote, Yoon has been suspended from office while South Korea’s Constitutional Court reviews the case.
The court has up to 180 days to make its ruling on his fate.
If the court upholds the impeachment, Yoon would become the second South Korean president in history to be successfully impeached.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is now acting as interim president, assured the public that he would work to ensure stable governance during the ongoing crisis.
The impeachment motion required a minimum of 200 votes to pass, and the opposition needed to win over some members of Yoon’s own conservative People Power Party (PPP).
Following the vote, opposition Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae declared the outcome a “great victory for the people.”
Outside the National Assembly, large groups of protesters gathered in support of the impeachment, with some chanting slogans and waving banners.
Police estimated at least 200,000 people participated in the protests. “This is an incredible moment,” said Choi Jung-ha, 52, a demonstrator who was seen dancing in the streets after the vote.
“We, the people, have made this happen.”
Meanwhile, a smaller group of around 30,000 people rallied in support of Yoon near Gwanghwamun Square.
Many of his supporters insisted that his decision to attempt martial law was justified, with one supporter, Choi Hee-sun, 62, stating, “Yoon had no choice but to declare martial law.”
The Democratic Party had long argued that impeachment was necessary to “protect the Constitution” and safeguard democracy in South Korea.
“We can no longer tolerate Yoon’s reckless actions,” said spokeswoman Hwang Jung-a.
The protest atmosphere was charged with energy, as volunteers handed out hot drinks, food, and hand warmers to counter the freezing temperatures.
K-pop singer Yuri of Girls’ Generation also voiced her support for the protestors, offering prepaid meals to fans attending the demonstrations.
Although the Constitutional Court could block the impeachment, there is precedent for a president’s reinstatement.
In 2004, then-President Roh Moo-hyun was impeached by the National Assembly but later reinstated by the court.
The court, which currently has only six judges, must make a unanimous decision on the impeachment.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik stated that the assembly would work to nominate three additional judges to the Constitutional Court to ensure a full panel.
“The future of South Korea lies in the hands of its people,” he said after the vote.
Yoon’s popularity has plummeted in the wake of the martial law attempt, with a recent Gallup Korea poll showing his approval rating at just 11 percent.
A staggering 75 percent of South Koreans supported his impeachment in the same poll, further reflecting the growing discontent with his presidency.
