South Korean Parliament Votes for Impeachment of President

The South Korean Parliament voted for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol following his controversial declaration of martial law. On Saturday, December 15, the National Assembly representatives approved the impeachment with 204 votes in favor and 85 against. The impeachment motion has been formally sent to his office and the Constitutional Court, suspending his powers as president. The Constitutional Court has a maximum of 180 days to decide on the removal or restoration of the president's powers. In the event of Yoon Suk-yeol's removal, a new presidential election must be held within 60 days. The South Korean president unexpectedly declared martial law late on December 4, but his order was revoked six hours later by a parliamentary resolution. Yoon's declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in over four decades in South Korea and lasted only six hours, but it caused severe political turmoil, halted diplomatic activities, and destabilized financial markets. Four days later, at the start of his first impeachment session in Parliament, Yoon apologized to the people for issuing the order in a televised speech. Supporters of the president gathered outside the National Assembly during the impeachment session. The first attempt by the South Korean Parliament to impeach Yoon failed because most representatives of the ruling party, 'People Power', of which Yoon is a member, abstained from voting. However, some lawmakers from the 'People Power' party later announced their support for the second vote on impeachment due to intensified public protests against him and a significant decline in his popularity. Tens of thousands of people have gathered every night in the streets of Seoul over the past two weeks in severe cold, demanding Yoon's removal and arrest; they chanted, danced, and called for Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment with glowing K-pop sticks. They also gathered in front of the National Assembly during the second impeachment session and celebrated the outcome of the president's impeachment.