South Korean President Yoon Faces Impeachment for Martial Law Decision

Seoul (Eurotoday) – South Korean MPs have initiated impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol after intercepting his surprise move to inflict martial law.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol lifted a surprise martial law declaration he had set just hours before, backing down in a stalemate with parliament which roundly declined his attempt to restrict political activity and censor the media. The president had stated martial law was needed to defend the country from “North Korea’s communist forces” and to “eliminate anti-state elements.”

Less than two hours after his statement, MPs pushed their way into the National Assembly and voted to thwart his decision – some broke through barriers. After the assembly vote, President Yoon reported he was reversing his martial law decision.

What led to the resignation of Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun?

Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun has also submitted his resignation, stating he accepted full responsibility. Kim has only held the part for a few months but is said to have been effective in the president’s plan to impose martial law. Several Korean media reports state he suggested the notion to the president, and gave directives to military commanders to enforce the action. In his resignation announcement, Kim stated that all soldiers “followed the minister’s instructions”, and he took “all responsibility”.

How are South Korean opposition groups reacting?

South Korean opposition groups blank” rel=”noopener”>said they had submitted a motion to impeach the president, Yoon Suk Yeol, over his short-lived declaration of martial law. “We’ve submitted an impeachment motion prepared urgently,” representatives for six opposition groups including the main Democratic party stated, adding they would examine when to put it to a vote.

Earlier, Yoon confronted calls to resign immediately or face impeachment after an attempt to bring in martial law triggered demonstrations and political condemnation. The liberal opposition Democratic party, which carries a majority in the 300-seat parliament, expressed its lawmakers had decided to call on Yoon to stand down straight away or they would take measures to impeach him.

“President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration was a clear violation of the constitution. It didn’t abide by any requirements to declare it,” the Democratic party stated in a statement. “His martial law declaration was originally invalid and a grave violation of the constitution. It was a grave act of rebellion and provides perfect grounds for his impeachment.”

What role did the speaker of the national assembly play in preventing martial law?

Moreover, the speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly who played a critical role in preventing the president’s martial law decision blank” rel=”noopener”>said he ran to parliament last night “with the thought that we must protect democracy”. When he reached the National Assembly, Woo stated police were controlling access to the building, and he was barred from entering.

As speaker, Woo expresses he has a “key position”, so he “went to the back where the National Assembly security was loose, climbed over the wall, and came in” (something another politician also had to do). Once he reached it, Woo says legislators were in a rush to begin proceedings – he would go on to lead parliament as it voted to rebound martial law, just two and a half hours after it was announced.