South Korea’s parliament is scheduled to vote on Saturday on an opposition-led motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his defense of a controversial martial law decree and refusal to step down despite growing public outcry.
This marks the second impeachment attempt related to Yoon's brief imposition of martial law on Dec. 3. The first vote last Saturday failed after ruling party lawmakers largely boycotted the session.
It remains uncertain whether members of the People Power Party will repeat their boycott. Public protests against Yoon have escalated, accompanied by a steep decline in his approval ratings. Despite a majority in the 300-seat parliament, opposition parties are eight votes short of the two-thirds majority required to pass the motion.
Mass protests have filled the streets of Seoul over the past two weeks, with tens of thousands demanding Yoon’s removal and arrest. Meanwhile, conservative supporters of Yoon have also rallied, decrying the impeachment attempt as “unconstitutional” and “misleading propaganda.”
The martial law, which lasted just six hours, was South Korea’s first in over 40 years. It sparked political turmoil, disrupted diplomacy, and shook financial markets. Parliament unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to withdraw it.
During the declaration, Yoon deployed hundreds of troops and police officers to the National Assembly in an attempt to obstruct the vote on martial law, although no significant violence was reported.
Critics, including opposition parties and legal experts, accuse Yoon of rebellion. South Korean law permits martial law only in wartime or similar emergencies and prohibits the suspension of parliamentary operations even under such measures. Law enforcement is investigating whether Yoon’s actions constitute rebellion, abuse of power, or other crimes, with rebellion carrying a potential death sentence or life imprisonment.
On Dec. 3, Yoon also ordered soldiers and police to the National Election Commission, citing concerns over potential vulnerabilities in its systems. This has led to speculation that Yoon acted on conspiracy theories regarding alleged election fraud after his party’s loss in April’s parliamentary elections.
The impeachment motion accuses Yoon of rebellion, alleging he disrupted peace and constitutional order by mobilizing armed forces and imposing martial law.
In a speech on Thursday, Yoon defended his actions as governance, denying rebellion allegations. He described the troop deployment to the parliament as a means of maintaining order and accused the opposition Democratic Party of attempting to undermine his administration.
Yoon characterized the opposition as “anti-state forces” that have abused legislative power, jeopardized next year’s budget, and aligned with North Korea. He pledged to resist what he called threats to South Korea’s constitutional future.
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung condemned Yoon’s remarks as a “mad declaration of war” against his own citizens.
If the impeachment motion passes, Yoon’s presidential duties will be suspended while the Constitutional Court reviews the case to decide whether to remove him or reinstate his powers. If dismissed, a new presidential election must be held within 60 days.
Yoon’s defense minister, police chief, and Seoul’s police agency head have been detained over their roles in the martial law case. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, accused of initiating the martial law proposal, attempted suicide in detention but is now in stable condition.
Though Yoon is immune from criminal prosecution as president, this privilege does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason. Authorities could investigate and detain him, though analysts suggest such measures are unlikely due to potential clashes with his security detail.