Everything About the Confirmed Impeachment of South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol

Unless you live under a rock, you’d have known about the South Korea martial law saga.

If you really live under a rock, watch this video to know more about the saga:

And you probably know that the first attempt to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol failed after his party boycotted the vote to impeach him.

But the opposition has said that they won’t be giving up, and indeed, they’ve not, because today, it’s confirmed: Mr Yoon is impeached.

Here’s what happened.

Everything About the Confirmed Impeachment of South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol

Today (14 December 2024), South Korea’s National Assembly voted (again) to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol following his failed attempt to declare martial law earlier in the month.

The vote passed with a two-thirds majority of 204 out of 300 lawmakers.

The impeachment motion, citing allegations of insurrection, required bipartisan support, with at least eight members of Yoon’s own conservative People Power Party (PPP) crossing party lines to vote for it.

In the aftermath of the impeachment vote, Yoon announced his decision to “step aside” but stopped short of apologizing.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has stepped in as interim president, addressing the nation with an assurance that state affairs would continue without disruption.

Han also expressed “deep responsibility” for the unfolding crisis.

Do note that unlike Singapore or Malaysia, whereby the prime minister is the head of government, it’s different in South Korea. Instead, over in South Korea, the president is the head of government, while the prime minister is the second-in-command (kind of like the vice-president).

The Democratic Party, the opposition party leading the impeachment effort, declared the vote a “victory of the people.”

But is President Yoon removed from office?

Well, not yet.

What’s Next for President Yoon

President Yoon’s fate now lies in the hands of South Korea’s Constitutional Court, which has 180 days to deliberate on the impeachment.

If upheld, Yoon would be the second South Korean president to be successfully removed from office, following Park Geun-hye’s ousting in 2017 for corruption.

Here’s the thing: the court’s decision is complicated by its current composition.

Only six out of nine judicial seats are filled, necessitating unanimous agreement for the impeachment to stand.

Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-shik pledged to expedite the nomination of three additional justices to ensure a robust deliberation process.

Legal experts indicate that the court will closely examine whether Yoon’s declaration of martial law constituted a violation of the Constitution and whether his actions align with charges of insurrection.

The latter charge carries severe implications, including the potential for capital punishment if intent and violent acts are proven.

Incidents such as special forces entering the National Assembly premises during the martial law declaration are likely to be scrutinized as part of the investigation.

But has presidents who were impeached stay in office?

*cough*Trump*cough*

In 2004, the court reinstated then-President Roh Moo-hyun after overturning his impeachment by National Assembly. Legal scholars argue that the court, given its reduced bench (remember, there are just six out of nine now), may be hesitant to remove a sitting president without full judicial representation.

Therefore, we have to wait and see.

Outside the National Assembly premises, approximately 200,000 demonstrators gathered in sub-zero temperatures to support Yoon’s removal, while 30,000 rallied in Gwanghwamun Square to defend him.

Protesters at the pro-impeachment rally shared hot drinks and food, with high-profile support from K-pop star Yuri of Girls’ Generation, who provided pre-paid meals for attendees.

Polls conducted prior to the vote revealed that 75% of South Koreans supported Yoon’s impeachment, while his approval rating plunged to 11%.