The South Korean National Assembly has passed an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol, marking a pivotal development in the country’s political landscape. With 204 votes in favor, the motion surpassed the required two-thirds majority of the 300-member assembly necessary for impeachment proceedings, as outlined in Article 66 of the South Korean Constitution. This decision stems from allegations against President Yoon related to his martial law declaration on December 3-4, which included controversial measures such as banning political activities and compelling striking doctors to resume work.
The National Assembly’s resolution contends that this declaration violated Article 77 of the Constitution. This article restricts the imposition of martial law to scenarios involving war or similar threats to national security. The Assembly concluded that both the enactment of martial law and related constraints on civil liberties were unjustified and constituted a misuse of presidential authority. The motion emphasizes the necessity of impeachment to safeguard constitutional governance and rectify the consequent constitutional imbalance.
Following this vote, the case moves to the Constitutional Court, which has a 180-day period to assess the impeachment. To permanently remove President Yoon from office, at least six of the nine constitutional judges must agree. In the interim, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will assume the role of acting president, as Article 71 of the Constitution mandates.
In response to the impeachment motion, Acting President Han, in a meeting held in the Seoul Government Complex, has pledged to uphold stable governance in accordance with constitutional laws, prioritizing national security and minimizing any disruptions to the lives of the citizens. He has committed to reinforcing national security measures, ensuring economic stability, and addressing concerns for vulnerable populations amid the ongoing political shift.
This decision is significant, being the second impeachment in South Korea’s history since the 2016 ousting of former President Park Geun-hye. If the Constitutional Court affirms the impeachment, a presidential election must take place within 60 days post-decision. For further details, see the original report.