Following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief declaration of martial law earlier this week, South Korean lawmakers are urging the suspension of his presidential powers, potentially leading to impeachment proceedings.
Opposition parties are pushing for a parliamentary vote on the matter, denouncing the martial law declaration as an “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.”
President Yoon’s late Tuesday night announcement of martial law shocked international allies and plunged the nation into turmoil. While South Korea’s parliament revoked the declaration six hours later, the incident has severely disrupted the country’s political landscape. Since Wednesday, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Seoul, demanding Yoon’s resignation and investigation.
However, impeachment requires a two-thirds majority in parliament, necessitating support from members of the president’s People Power Party (PPP). The opposition parties, having 192 seats, need additional votes; the PPP holds 108 seats.
During a party meeting, PPP leader Han Dong-hun advocated for the immediate suspension of Yoon’s presidential duties and powers, citing a “significant risk of extreme actions,” including renewed attempts at martial law, potentially endangering South Korea and its citizens.
Han stated that he received intelligence suggesting the president had ordered the arrests of unnamed politicians accused of “anti-state activities” during the period of martial law.
Han, leading a dissenting faction within the ruling party, had 18 lawmakers from his faction vote alongside opposition members to overturn Yoon’s martial law decree.
Impeachment would suspend Yoon until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office or reinstate his powers.
In a televised address on Friday, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, stressed the urgency of suspending Yoon’s powers.
Lee characterized Yoon’s actions as “rebellion and a self-coup,” highlighting the damage to the nation’s reputation and foreign policy paralysis caused by the incident, citing criticism from the Biden administration and canceled visits from foreign leaders.
President Yoon has yet to respond to Han’s remarks and has remained absent from the public since retracting his martial law declaration.