Yoon Suk Yeol’s Impeachment, December 3rd to Today
Protests for and against the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol collide on the campus of Korea University on February 21, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. Source: Joseph Cole
The representative government of South Korea was thrown into chaos on December 3rd, 2023, for one of the first times since the country’s democratization in 1987. The sitting president, Yoon Suk Yeol, declared martial law and decried the involvement of “foreign agents” in the National Assembly, pointing to the “mammoth opposition” as the main culprits. This unprecedented move, which lasted approximately six hours before being rescinded, has led to widespread political turmoil, legal battles, and public protests, casting a shadow over the nation's democratic institutions.
Lead-up and Justification
As South Korea rebuilt from the devastation of the Korean War, authoritarian leaders frequently used martial law to suppress dissent, deploying soldiers, tanks, and armored vehicles to quell anti-government protests. The country’s first coup came in 1961 when Army General Park Chung-hee seized power, ruling for nearly two decades. Park repeatedly invoked martial law to silence opposition until his eventual assassination in 1979. Months later, Major General Chun Doo-hwan staged a second coup, later orchestrating a violent crackdown on the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising, killing at least 200 people. Public outrage over military rule culminated in mass protests in 1987, forcing the government to adopt peaceful single-term presidential elections that have continued to this day.
President Yoon Suk Yeol was elected in 2022 on a platform characterized by far-right, anti-feminist, and allegedly illegitimate tendencies. After the declaration of martial law, the first since 1980, President Yoon justified the imposition as a necessary measure to protect the nation from what he described as a corrupt and "anti-state" opposition-controlled parliament. He argued that the decree was intended to counteract the opposition's alleged misuse of power and to maintain national stability.
However, critics of Yoon, such as the main opposition, the Democratic Party, contend that this action was an overreach of executive power, lacking constitutional justification, and likened it to authoritarian behavior. The National Assembly, including high-ranking members of Yoon’s own People Power Party, swiftly moved to impeach Yoon, leading to his suspension from office and subsequent arrest on rebellion charges.
Public Response and Political Climate
The situation has polarized public opinion across the country, especially between younger and older generations, as South Koreans wait for the results of the impeachment trial. Supporters of President Yoon, many influenced by evangelical Christian groups and messaging from the Cold War, have clashed with opposition-staged protests advocating for his impeachment, alleging election fraud and foreign interference without substantial evidence. Conversely, opponents of the President view the martial law declaration as a severe threat to democratic norms in the country.
Among South Koreans, a majority support the impeachment of President Yoon at nearly 60%, according to a Gallup Korea poll. Supporters of the opposition Democratic Party back the impeachment at 97%, while members of Yoon’s People Power Party support the impeachment at 16%, demonstrating the polarizing nature of the trial.
Legal Proceedings and Impeachment Trial
After the formal impeachment by the National Assembly, the case was moved to the Constitutional Court of Korea to determine President Yoon’s fate. The Constitutional Court, operating with only eight justices instead of its usual nine, must deliver a ruling within 180 days once the trial begins. Before the trial started, complications had arisen due to judicial vacancies and debates over whether Acting President Han Duck-soo had the authority to appoint new justices. Han’s refusal to confirm nominees led to his impeachment, further delaying court proceedings.
The trial formally began in December 2024, with the National Assembly initially charging Yoon with insurrection. However, the prosecution later withdrew that charge to focus on constitutional violations related to his declaration of martial law in order to expedite the trial. Yoon's defense argued that martial law was a necessary response to a national emergency, while the prosecution accused him of attempting to obstruct legislative functions in the nation. President Yoon refused to appear at the beginning of the trial due to cited security concerns, delaying the judicial process.
Yoon's defense sought to exclude certain justices over alleged bias, while the prosecution brought in high-ranking military and intelligence officials as witnesses. The trial concluded after 73 days with a total of 11 hearings and 16 people testifying as witnesses. The court is expected to deliver its ruling by mid-March while Choi Sang-mok serves as acting president.
The citizens of South Korea have continually banded together to fight authoritarian leaders, and despite the polarization amongst various groups, the opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is currently favored to take over from President Yoon. However, he comes with controversies of his own, and the long-term ramifications of Yoon’s martial law declaration will be felt for many years to come in South Korea. Going forward, if public demands for accountability and constitutional reform are met, the country could emerge with a strengthened system of checks and balances—but persistent divisions may also fuel further instability and cycles of retribution.