South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been impeached by the National Assembly following his controversial attempt to impose martial law. In response to the vote, Yoon announced that he would “step aside” but expressed his determination to continue fighting for his political future.
The impeachment vote, which came on December 14, 2024, suspended Yoon from his presidential duties. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has temporarily assumed the role of acting president. Despite his suspension, Yoon remains defiant, vowing not to give up on his vision for South Korea’s future, which he emphasized in a televised address. “Although I am stopping for now, the journey I have walked with the people over the past two and a half years must never come to a halt,” he said.
The decision to impeach Yoon stems from his attempt to impose martial law on December 3, a move that shocked the nation. Yoon deployed heavily armed troops in Seoul, declaring martial law for the first time since 1980. His stated goal was to “eliminate anti-state elements plundering people’s freedom and happiness.” However, the declaration triggered chaos, with lawmakers eventually overturning the order after some even climbed the walls of the National Assembly.
Yoon had narrowly avoided impeachment earlier when his party boycotted a vote on the matter. The motion was initially dropped after failing to secure the required votes. However, opposition lawmakers, who hold 192 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, renewed their efforts, successfully securing enough votes for impeachment on December 14. At least 12 members of Yoon’s own People Power Party joined the opposition in the vote.
As the situation unfolds, Yoon remains suspended, with the Constitutional Court set to decide whether his impeachment will stand within the next six months. If he is formally removed from office, a snap election will be held.
Yoon’s actions have sparked significant public backlash, with tens of thousands of South Koreans protesting across the capital, demanding his resignation. Critics have labeled his martial law order as unconstitutional and illegal, further intensifying the pressure on the president.
