Martial law in South Korea could result in impeachment for the president
4 December 2024 10:11
Martial law in South Korea lasted about six hours, after which the parliament blocked the president’s decision. Instead, South Korean President Yong Suk-yeol is now facing harsh criticism and calls for impeachment, according to "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to Yonhap News Agency.
A brief history of martial law in South Korea
Last night, Yong suddenly declared martial law, accusing the opposition parties that hold a majority in parliament of “undermining the functioning of the state” through their attempts to impeach government officials and cut the budget for next year.
Around 280 soldiers entered the parliament, while police blocked its entrances. This was the first such incident in the country since the establishment of the democratic system in 1987. Therefore, this decision shocked the society.
Yon’s decision to impose martial law was overturned on Wednesday morning after the National Assembly voted against it: 190 votes in favor of lifting it and none against. At the same time, some members of the pro-presidential party “Power of the People” also supported the decision.
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The possibility of impeachment
The leader of the Democratic Party (DP), Lee Jae-myung, called the president’s actions “illegal” and said that “Yong is no longer president.” The DP announced its intention to file treason charges against Yong, as well as the ministers of defense and interior, and seek their impeachment.
According to the law, the parliament has 72 hours to consider the impeachment after the motion is submitted. It requires the support of two-thirds of the 300 MPs to be approved. The DP with the smaller parties opposed to the president has 192 seats, so at least eight MPs from the pro-presidential party must be involved.
If the impeachment is approved, the Constitutional Court will decide whether to remove Yon from office. During the trial, his powers will be temporarily transferred to Prime Minister Han Dok-soo.
Political crisis and international reaction
The president’s actions have caused a political crisis and concern among international partners. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken emphasized the importance of resolving political conflicts “peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.”
In addition, the opposition plans to vote next week on the bill on a special prosecutor to investigate corruption cases related to the first lady. This bill has been vetoed three times by the president and requires a two-thirds vote to override a veto.
Yon’s actions also affected his political reputation at a time of growing challenges for the country, particularly before his meeting with Donald Trump, which is scheduled for after the latter’s inauguration in early 2025.
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