South Korea finds itself teetering on the edge of a constitutional precipice. In a stunning political reversal, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has announced its support for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, escalating the already volatile political climate. This dramatic shift follows President Yoon’s highly controversial declaration of martial law on December 3rd, a decision that sparked immediate and widespread public outrage and plunged the nation into a deep political crisis.
The PPP’s about-face is significant. Initially hesitant to support impeachment, the party had hoped President Yoon would voluntarily resign. However, after their efforts to persuade him to step down proved unsuccessful, the party acknowledged the gravity of the situation. Party leader Han Dong-hoon declared, “We tried to find a better way than impeachment, but that other way is invalid. Suspending the president from his duties through impeachment is the only way for now, to defend democracy and the republic.” This statement underscores the profound concern within the ruling party regarding the President’s actions and their potential threat to democratic governance.
The opposition Democratic Party is poised to capitalize on this shift, preparing a new impeachment motion expected to be put to a vote as early as Saturday. Success would temporarily remove President Yoon from power, pending a review by the Constitutional Court. The outcome hinges on the ability to secure the necessary two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, a daunting but not unprecedented task, given the political landscape.
President Yoon’s martial law declaration was met with immediate and fierce resistance. Within just six hours of its announcement, the order was rescinded following concerted efforts by lawmakers to defy the military and annul the decree. The swift reversal, however, did little to quell the growing calls for his resignation. Protests erupted across the nation, and support eroded even within his own party and the military. Despite this mounting pressure, President Yoon remained defiant on Thursday, declaring in a speech, “I will fight until the last moment with the people.”
In his defiant address, President Yoon attempted to justify his controversial decision, rejecting calls for his resignation and maintaining that his actions were necessary to protect democracy. He portrayed the martial law declaration as a legal measure to prevent the collapse of democratic governance, framing it as a response to what he termed an opposition-led “parliamentary dictatorship.” This narrative, however, has failed to sway public opinion and has further solidified the support for his impeachment.
The impeachment process itself is complex. It requires a two-thirds majority vote in the 300-member National Assembly, followed by another two-thirds majority vote from the nine-member Constitutional Court. This presents a challenging path, necessitating cross-party support. Historical precedent exists, notably the 2016 impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, which involved a significant number of lawmakers from her own party voting in favor. The current political climate makes the outcome uncertain, with 101 votes in the National Assembly sufficient to block impeachment. While President Yoon’s People Power Party holds 108 seats, 18 members voted to overturn the martial law declaration, indicating potential cracks within the party’s unity.
The potential consequences are far-reaching. If President Yoon is impeached and his presidential powers suspended, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will assume the presidency. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is widely considered a frontrunner in any subsequent presidential elections, which would need to be held within 60 days of Yoon’s removal. South Korea now anxiously awaits the outcome of the impeachment vote, a decision that will significantly shape the nation’s political trajectory and its future leadership.
