Impeachment Declared Against South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol
World
The South Korean parliament has voted to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol for the second time within a week. This time, 204 lawmakers supported the impeachment, while 85 voted against it, deeming the president unfit for office. For this decision to take effect, it now requires confirmation by the Constitutional Court.
The decisive shift in the ruling "People Power" party was a significant factor in the outcome of the vote on December 14. The president's party had boycotted the impeachment vote on December 7, preventing the opposition from achieving the removal of the head of state.
Over the past week, mass protests and demonstrations led the ruling party to reconsider its support for the president, and they ultimately decided not to back him.
The Constitutional Court will now review the impeachment decision, a process that could take up to six months. The court must either confirm the impeachment or reinstate President Yoon Suk-yeol to office.
Yoon Suk-yeol, the 13th president of the Republic of Korea, had served as the country's prosecutor general from 2019 to 2021 before winning the 2022 presidential election.
Key events from the past week in South Korea:
On Thursday, Yoon defended his decision to declare martial law during a televised address, pledging to "fight until the end" against efforts to remove him. He reiterated that his actions were an attempt to protect the country from anti-state forces.
On Wednesday, police attempted to raid Yoon’s office, but security personnel blocked them from entering the main building.
Also on Wednesday, Yoon’s former defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, attempted suicide in a Seoul detention center but was stopped by prison staff. Kim had been arrested for allegedly leading a rebellion and abusing power.
The country’s police chief and the head of the Seoul metropolitan police were impeached by parliament.
On Monday, Yoon was banned from leaving the country. On Tuesday, similar travel bans were imposed on senior officials, including the interior and defense ministers. Martial law commander General Park An-su had already been under a travel ban.
Over the past week, mass protests and demonstrations led the ruling party to reconsider its support for the president, and they ultimately decided not to back him.
The Constitutional Court will now review the impeachment decision, a process that could take up to six months. The court must either confirm the impeachment or reinstate President Yoon Suk-yeol to office.
Yoon Suk-yeol, the 13th president of the Republic of Korea, had served as the country's prosecutor general from 2019 to 2021 before winning the 2022 presidential election.
Key events from the past week in South Korea:
On Thursday, Yoon defended his decision to declare martial law during a televised address, pledging to "fight until the end" against efforts to remove him. He reiterated that his actions were an attempt to protect the country from anti-state forces.
On Wednesday, police attempted to raid Yoon’s office, but security personnel blocked them from entering the main building.
Also on Wednesday, Yoon’s former defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, attempted suicide in a Seoul detention center but was stopped by prison staff. Kim had been arrested for allegedly leading a rebellion and abusing power.
The country’s police chief and the head of the Seoul metropolitan police were impeached by parliament.
On Monday, Yoon was banned from leaving the country. On Tuesday, similar travel bans were imposed on senior officials, including the interior and defense ministers. Martial law commander General Park An-su had already been under a travel ban.
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