In a historic and unprecedented move, South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol has been impeached by lawmakers, following a contentious declaration of martial law that sparked widespread outrage. The parliamentary vote held on Saturday saw 204 lawmakers supporting the motion to impeach the president, while 85 voted against it .
The impeachment immediately suspends Yoon’s powers as president, pending a final decision from South Korea’s Constitutional Court. This development mirrors a similar case from less than a decade ago, where another South Korean leader faced impeachment.
The crisis began on December 3, when Yoon declared martial law and ordered troops to the National Assembly. Lawmakers were forced to break through the military presence to gain access to the chamber, where they quickly overturned the president’s decree. This dramatic act of defiance fueled public anger and increased calls for Yoon’s resignation.
Despite growing unrest, Yoon refused to step down, deepening divisions within his ruling People Power Party. The party’s leader, Han Dong-hoon, eventually reversed his stance, calling for impeachment and urging lawmakers to vote with their conscience .
As lawmakers prepared for the historic vote, thousands of protesters braved the cold in Seoul, demanding Yoon’s resignation. With the impeachment process now in motion, the Constitutional Court will determine whether Yoon will be permanently removed from office. Until then, South Korea remains in a state of political uncertainty.
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