South Korea moves to impeach Yoon after martial law

1:30am on 5 December 2024

The news: South Korea’s opposition lawmakers filed a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol following his abrupt and short-lived martial law declaration, which parliament unanimously overturned.

The context: The first martial law declaration in South Korea since 1980 lasted just hours, triggering a rush to the National Assembly, where armed troops were unable to block lawmakers from entering.

The declaration banned political activity, censored the media and was unanimously voted down by 190 lawmakers, some of whom managed to climb walls to re-enter the parliament building.

His own party also urged him to lift the decree before he was obliged to do so, just hours after his shocking move to impose it.

Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun, alleged to have advised the declaration, submitted his resignation. It needs to be approved by the president.

South Korea’s opposition parties, led by the Democratic Party, filed a motion to impeach Yoon and the minister. It also said it was formalising plans to bring treason charges against the president.

The numbers: Yoon now faces an impeachment vote as early as Friday or Saturday, unless he resigns first. His impeachment requires support from two-thirds of the National Assembly’s 300 members and six Constitutional Court justices to confirm it at a trial.

If impeached, Yoon’s powers would be suspended, with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the number-two position in South Korean government, assuming interim leadership.

The episode triggered protests in central Seoul, with labour unions planning strikes and those gathered outside the National Assembly shouted and clapped “We won!”

Markets reacted with a 1.4% drop in South Korean stocks, prompting authorities to pledge unlimited liquidity.

The US expressed concern over the events, welcoming the lifting of martial law, which lasted just six hours and has been labelled unconstitutional by some.

The sources: Reuters, Associated Press