Just eleven days after President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea made a middle-of-the-night declaration of martial law that lasted a mere six hours, that country’s National Assembly voted to impeach him. Twelve members of Yoon’s party crossed the aisle to vote with the opposition, creating the two-thirds majority necessary to strip him of his office and make Prime Minister Han Duck-soo interim president.
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As the drama leading to the 204-96 impeachment vote took place inside the National Assembly meeting hall, South Koreans thronged the streets outside in anticipation of the outcome.
SEOUL (@CNN) — CHEERS as thousands rejoice Yoon impeachment outside South Korea’s National Assembly — video via CNN’s Ava Ko pic.twitter.com/PSD0pt7CQJ
— Mike Valerio (@ValerioCNN) December 14, 2024
Someone might think this clip of Aju Nice is from a seventeen concert but no, this is in South Korea celebrating a presidential impeachment. Now that’s iconic. pic.twitter.com/qggU0k69Yi
— aubs 🍒 (@lovecherrycheol) December 14, 2024
BACKGROUND:
South Korean President Suspends National Assembly and Declares Martial Law – RedState
Impeachment Looms for South Korean President After Martial Law Is Lifted – RedState
South Korea now enters a period of paralysis until all of this is sorted out.
The fate of Mr. Yoon, a deeply unpopular leader, now rests in the hands of the country’s Constitutional Court, which will decide — within the next six months — whether to reinstate or formally remove him. If he is formally removed, South Korea is then supposed to elect a new leader within two months.
During his suspension from office, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the No. 2 official in the government hierarchy, has stepped in as interim leader. Because Mr. Han is not an elected official, he will lead South Korea with no real political heft at a time when the country faces challenges at home and abroad, such as North Korea’s growing nuclear threat and the return of Donald J. Trump to the White House.
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But nothing is easy.
It is unclear whether the Constitutional Court, which serves the role of the U.S. Senate in the American presidential impeachment process, will uphold the impeachment vote against Yoon.
At least six members of the nine-judge court must vote to remove the president, but the court has three vacancies. Four of the six judges serving on the court were appointed by Yoon. The parliamentary speaker said Saturday night after the vote that the vacancies would be filled quickly.
The South Korean constitution does not make allowances for unfilled Constitutional Court seats. If Yoon’s case were to go to the Court today, a unanimous vote would be required to remove him.
In 2004, the Constitutional Court overturned President Roh Moo-hyun’s impeachment and returned him to office. Yoon has vowed to fight on: “Although I am stopping for now, the journey I have walked with the people over the past two and a half years toward the future must never come to a halt. I will never give up.”
I don’t pretend to be an authority on South Korea’s politics, but it seems like a safe bet that Yoon’s party will get trounced. He was unpopular before the coup attempt (16 percent approval rating) and is more unpopular now (11 percent). The presumed successor, Lee Jae-myung, is politically to the left of Yoon. He favors Korea’s alliance with the US, he believes North Korea can be talked and begged into submission, and he wants good economic relations with China.
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One thing that does seem guaranteed is that Yoon and his wife, who was at the center of corruption allegations, will face a substantial period of incarceration.
🇰🇷 Presidents of South Korea
1. Syngman Rhee (1948–1960) – Overthrown.
2. Yun Bo-seon (1960–1962) – Overthrown.
3. Park Chung-hee (1962–1979) – Assassinated.
4. Choi Kyu-hah (1979–1980) – Removed by a military coup.
5. Chun Doo-hwan (1981–1988) – Sentenced to death after… pic.twitter.com/mk7NExbbHX— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 3, 2024
