South Korea’s parliament voted Saturday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after his controversial declaration of martial law earlier this month. The National Assembly passed the motion with a 204-85 vote, resulting in Yoon’s immediate suspension from presidential duties. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will assume presidential responsibilities while the Constitutional Court reviews the case.
According to the Associated Press, the court has up to 180 days to decide whether to permanently remove Yoon from office or reinstate him. If the court upholds the impeachment, South Korea will be required to hold a national election within 60 days to select a new president.
The impeachment vote marked a dramatic turn in the country’s politics, as it followed weeks of protests and plummeting approval ratings for Yoon. Although the ruling People Power Party initially boycotted a prior impeachment vote, many lawmakers reversed course and supported the motion amid mounting public pressure.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik called the impeachment a victory for democratic values, referring to it as “the people’s ardent desire for democracy, courage and dedication.” The impeachment comes as hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered near the parliament, with one lead activist shouting on a stage, “We have preserved the constitutional order!”
In response to the impeachment, Yoon issued a statement saying he would “not give up.” He referred to the current state of government as a “temporary” pause of his presidency and called on officials to maintain stability in government functions.
“I will carry with me all the criticisms, encouragement and support directed toward me, and I will continue to do my utmost for the country until the very last moment,” Yoon’s statement read.
Yoon declared martial law on December 3, marking the first such decree in South Korea in over 40 years. The martial law, which lasted only six hours, was overturned unanimously by parliament, forcing Yoon to lift the order.
