In a dramatic political turn, South Korean lawmakers voted on Saturday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt to declare martial law on December 3.
The vote, which passed with 204 lawmakers in favor and 85 against, marks a significant moment in South Korea’s political landscape, with opposition leaders hailing it as a “victory for the people.”
The impeachment motion accused Yoon of insurrection, resulting in his immediate suspension from office.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has stepped in as interim president while the Constitutional Court deliberates on Yoon’s future. The court now has 180 days to issue its ruling.
The vote was closely watched, as the opposition needed at least 200 votes to succeed, with key support from members of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party (PPP). At least eight PPP lawmakers broke ranks to support the impeachment.
Meanwhile, mass protests erupted across Seoul, with roughly 200,000 demonstrators gathering in support of Yoon’s removal, according to police estimates.
On the other side of the city, around 30,000 rallied in support of the president, waving South Korean and American flags and chanting patriotic songs.
“Yoon had no choice but to declare martial law. I support every decision he made as president,” said Choi Hee-sun, 62, one of Yoon’s supporters.
The main opposition Democratic Party, which spearheaded the impeachment effort, argued that removing Yoon was necessary to “safeguard the Constitution, democracy, and the rule of law.”
“We can no longer tolerate Yoon’s actions,” said party spokesperson Hwang Jung-a.
In the heart of the impeachment rally, protestors braved freezing temperatures, with volunteers handing out free warmers, coffee, and food.
K-pop star Yuri from Girls’ Generation, whose song “Into the New World” has become a symbol of protest, supported the demonstration by covering food expenses for attendees. Some protestors even rented a bus for parents to change diapers and feed their babies.
Despite the impeachment victory in parliament, Yoon’s legal troubles are far from over. If the Constitutional Court upholds the decision, Yoon would become only the second South Korean president in history to be successfully impeached.
However, there is a precedent for the court overturning such a move. In 2004, President Roh Moo-hyun was impeached by parliament but later reinstated by the Constitutional Court.
With only six judges on the court, any ruling would require unanimous agreement. Should the impeachment vote fail, legal experts warn that Yoon could still face consequences for his actions.
“This is clearly an act of insurrection,” said Kim Hyun-jung, a researcher at Korea University’s Institute of Law. “Even if the impeachment fails, Yoon’s legal responsibilities cannot be avoided.”
Yoon’s approval rating has sharply declined amid the martial law controversy, with a recent Gallup Korea poll showing his support at a record low of just 11%.
The same poll indicated that 75% of the population now supports his impeachment.
