South Korean President Yoon’s Political Downfall: From Martial Law to Impeachment

In a dramatic turn of events, South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol has been suspended from office following his impeachment by parliament. The impeachment marks the culmination of nearly two weeks of unprecedented political turmoil, ignited by his controversial imposition of martial law—a move that shocked the nation and set off a series of extraordinary events.

The Martial Law Declaration and Immediate Fallout

On December 3, President Yoon made a late-night televised announcement, declaring martial law in a bid to eliminate what he described as “anti-state forces” and to break through political gridlock. Within an hour, the military issued a directive banning political party activities and restricting the actions of lawmakers. Troops swiftly descended on the opposition-led parliament, sparking chaos as staffers resisted using barricades and fire extinguishers. Special operations forces used helicopters to gain entry, breaking windows in the process.

The spectacle didn’t stop there—lawmakers climbed fences to escape security cordons while large protests erupted outside the parliamentary grounds. The extreme nature of the crackdown drew immediate condemnation, escalating tensions overnight.

Parliament Pushes Back

In a bold show of defiance, 190 lawmakers convened in the early hours of December 4 to unanimously reject Yoon’s martial law declaration. Shortly after their vote, troops began withdrawing from parliament. Yoon, facing mounting backlash, appeared on television again to announce the revocation of martial law just six hours after it was enacted.

That same day, opposition lawmakers filed a motion to impeach the president, citing the illegitimacy and heavy-handed nature of his martial law decree. International criticism quickly followed, with prominent figures calling the move deeply flawed and a grave miscalculation.

Growing Political Isolation

The fallout from Yoon’s actions continued to intensify. By December 5, his ruling party, the People Power Party (PPP), faced internal division. While the party initially decided to oppose the impeachment, cracks began to show as some members openly criticized Yoon’s leadership. That same day, Yoon accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who had been a key figure in enforcing the martial law declaration.

Adding to the mounting pressure, police began investigations into Yoon and top officials for alleged treason and other crimes related to the martial law incident. Activists and opposition leaders filed complaints accusing the administration of gross misconduct.

A Leadership in Crisis

The situation escalated further on December 6, when PPP leader Han Dong-hoon publicly called for Yoon’s removal from office, citing his dangerous overreach in imposing martial law. This marked a significant shift, as voices within Yoon’s own party began demanding his resignation.

Despite this, Yoon appeared resolute. On December 7, he addressed the nation, offering an apology while insisting that his political future rested in the hands of his party. Yet his refusal to step down left parliament deadlocked. A vote to impeach him that day failed due to a PPP-led boycott, which denied the assembly the quorum needed for proceedings.

Legal and Political Troubles Deepen

As the week progressed, Yoon’s legal troubles mounted. On December 8, prosecutors announced a criminal investigation into his actions, naming him as the central figure in the martial law controversy. The following day, the justice ministry imposed a travel ban on the embattled president, preventing him from leaving the country.

The revelations became more damaging on December 10, when an Army commander testified before parliament, alleging that Yoon had ordered lawmakers to be forcibly removed from the chamber during the martial law declaration. This testimony fueled public outrage and amplified calls for his ousting.

Compounding the chaos, the former defense minister, who had been a close ally of Yoon, attempted suicide amid the intensifying investigations, casting a shadow over the already fraught political environment.

The Impeachment Vote

By mid-December, the situation reached a breaking point. On December 13, opposition leaders urged PPP members to cross party lines and vote for impeachment. The following day, parliament delivered a decisive blow, with 204 out of 300 lawmakers voting in favor of removing Yoon from office. Notably, at least 12 members of the PPP joined the opposition in supporting the motion.

With Yoon’s presidential powers suspended, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo assumed the role of acting president. The Constitutional Court now faces the task of deciding within six months whether to permanently remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.

A Shocking End to Yoon’s Presidency

President Yoon’s political downfall has sent shockwaves through South Korea, marking one of the most turbulent periods in the nation’s modern history. His attempt to impose martial law not only failed to achieve its intended goals but also isolated him from allies and eroded public trust.

The next steps in this saga hinge on the Constitutional Court’s ruling, which will determine whether Yoon’s political career is permanently over. For now, South Korea is left grappling with the aftermath of a presidency that unraveled in dramatic fashion, leaving behind a deeply polarized political landscape.