SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea’s parliament on Saturday ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol in a surprise and temporary martial law decision, ending days of political paralysis but sparking heated debate over Yoon’s case, as jubilant crowds roared. another moment of defiance in the country’s strong democracy.
The National Assembly passed the motion 204-85. Yoon’s presidential powers and duties were then suspended and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country’s No. 2 head of state, assumed presidential powers later on Saturday.
The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to decide whether to remove Yoon as president or restore his power. If he is removed from office, a national election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days.
It was the National Assembly’s second vote on Yoon’s impeachment after ruling party lawyers boycotted voting on the first floor last Saturday. Some lawmakers from the People Power Party had said they would vote for Yoon’s removal from office as public protests intensified and his approval rating dropped.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik said Yoon’s prosecution was the result of “the people’s great desire for democracy, courage and sacrifice.”
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered near the parliament roaring with joy, waving banners and banging colorful K-pop sticks, as a leading activist shouted from the stage, “We have preserved the constitutional order!”
In the central Seoul plaza, another large crowd gathered in support of Yoon, but was subdued after hearing that he had been indicted. Both the gatherings were peaceful.
The acting leader strengthens the country’s security
Yoon issued a statement saying he “will never lose power” and called on officials to maintain stability in government operations during what he described as a “temporary” suspension of the presidency.
“I will go along with all the criticism, encouragement and support directed at me, and I will continue to do my best for the country until the last moment,” said Yoon.
Yoon’s Dec. 3 imposition of martial law, the first in more than four decades in South Korea, lasted only six hours, but it caused a major political upheaval, halted diplomatic activity and rallied financial markets. Yoon was forced to lift his decision after parliament voted unanimously to overturn it.
Han, the acting leader, ordered the military to strengthen its security posture to prevent North Korea from launching miscalculated provocations. Han asked the foreign minister to inform other countries that South Korea’s major foreign policies have not changed, and the finance minister to work to reduce the potential negative effects on the economy due to political unrest, according to Han’s office.
“I am asking for this from government employees. Right now, we have an important task to ensure the normal and stable operation of state affairs … I ask you to do your duty without neglect to ensure that the government works without being shaken,” Han said in a televised statement. .
Executive power in South Korea is concentrated in the president, but the prime minister leads the country if the president is unable to work. Han is a veteran official and has held a series of top government posts such as trade minister and finance minister and ambassador to the US. He served as prime minister from 2007-2008.
Philip S. Goldberg, the US ambassador to South Korea, wrote to X that he recently met with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and they reaffirmed that the alliance between the two countries will remain “unsettled.” Goldberg said the US supports South Korea’s “democratic and constitutional process” and stands with its people.
After declaring martial law, Yoon sent hundreds of soldiers and police to parliament to try to prevent its vote on the law, before withdrawing after parliament rejected Yoon’s declaration. No major violence occurred.
Opposition parties and many experts accuse Yoon of sedition, citing the separatist law as a rebellion against established state authorities to undermine the constitution. They also said that South Korea’s president is only allowed to declare martial law in times of war or similar emergencies and has no right to suspend parliament even under martial law.
The impeachment motion said Yoon “committed a demonstration that harmed the peace of the Republic of Korea by causing a series of riots.” It said Yoon’s combination of the military and the police threatened the National Assembly and the public and that his martial law was intended to undermine the constitution.
Yoon remains defiant
In a fiery speech on Thursday, Yoon rejected charges of treason, calling his imposition of martial law an act of authoritarianism. Conservative Yoon said he intends to issue a warning to the main opposition Democratic Party, which he calls a “monster” and “anti-state forces” that he says have changed their legislative powers to impeach senior officials and undermine the government’s budget bill. next year. He said the military deployment was meant to maintain order, rather than disrupt it.
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung called Yoon’s speech a “crazy declaration of war” against his own people.
Observers said Yoon’s speech suggested a focus on legal preparations to defend his martial law decision at the Constitutional Court, as opinion polls showed more than 70% of South Koreans support his prosecution. A survey released on Friday put Yoon’s approval rating at 11%, the lowest since he took office in 2022.
Some of Yoon’s claims are inconsistent with the testimony of other military commanders whose soldiers were sent to the Assembly.
Most notably, Kwak Jong-keun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, said that after martial law was declared, Yoon called him and asked his soldiers to “immediately destroy the door and drag out the law-makers inside.” Kak said he did not follow Yoon’s orders.
Yoon is the third South Korean president to be impeached while in office. In 2016, parliament impeached Park Geun-hye, the country’s first female president, in a corruption scandal. The Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment and dismissed him from office.
In 2004, President Roh Moo-hyun was impeached in parliament for alleged election violations but the court overturned the impeachment and restored his presidential powers. Roh died in 2009, after leaving office, amid a corruption scandal involving his family.
Yoon is banned from leaving South Korea.
He has presidential immunity from criminal prosecution but that does not extend to accusations of treason or treason. Later, Yoon may be investigated, arrested, detained or charged under his martial law, but many observers doubt that the authorities will detain him by force because of a possible conflict with his presidential security duties.
Yoon’s defense minister, a police chief and the head of the Seoul National Police Agency were arrested. Other senior military and government officials are also under investigation.
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