President Yoon Faces Impeachment After Reversal of Martial Law Declaration

On Wednesday, South Korean lawmakers introduced a bill to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol following his controversial declaration of martial law, which he later rescinded within hours. The move plunged Asia’s fourth-largest economy into a political crisis. Yoon’s efforts to ban political activity and impose media censorship sparked a confrontation with parliament, which rejected his decree. The situation escalated when armed troops stormed the National Assembly building in Seoul, prompting lawmakers to resist with fire extinguishers in a dramatic standoff.

It needs to be clarified whether Yoon will be able to regain the public’s trust after the debacle, and experts say the shock announcement could damage his reputation as an economic leader and regional power broker. “His action was a blunder of monumental proportion,” said Natalia Slavney, a researcher at the Stimson Center’s 38 North website who studies Korea. She said it was the latest in a long series of “worrying incidents” since Yoon took office in 2022.

After he announced the move late on Tuesday, Yoon said it was necessary to protect against “anti-state forces.” The declaration sparked protests in Seoul and across the country. But hours later, he reversed the order, saying he would lift it if parliament agreed.

The main opposition Democratic Party vowed to begin impeachment proceedings against Yoon. It accused him of violating the constitution and threatening democracy, and a senior member of parliament said he could face treason charges. The National Assembly can impeach the president if over two-thirds of its 300 members vote for it, and then a trial will be held by the Constitutional Court. This nine-member council oversees the country’s branches of government. If six judges back the impeachment, Yoon will be removed from office.

However, the political crisis could also exacerbate lingering divisions between the two major parties and high levels of dissatisfaction with politics in the country. A former prosecutor general, Yoon made his name leading the corruption investigation to ex-President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment in 2016. But his popularity has dipped amid growing dissatisfaction over a sluggish economy, rising property prices, and low birth rates.

The president’s office defended his decision, saying it was “strictly inside [the country’s] constitutional framework.” It added that the martial law would be lifted as soon as parliament voted. But even before that happened, several of his party lawmakers called for impeachment.

The parliamentary committee overseeing presidential impeachment will discuss the case on Thursday, and the proposal will be reported to a plenary session on Friday or Saturday. Then, the entire legislature must vote for it to pass, including Yoon’s majority People Power Party. Most 200 members must approve the impeachment, and the process must be completed within 72 hours. If the vote is successful, the Constitutional Court will hold a trial to determine whether or not the president should be removed from office. Ideally, the process should be completed by early next year before elections take place in which Yoon will not be eligible to run for re-election.