South Korea Impeaches President Yoon Over Martial Law Decree

South Korea's parliament has voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol following his controversial declaration of martial law earlier in December 2024. 

The impeachment motion passed overwhelmingly with 204 votes in favor, after protests and a sharp decline in Yoon's approval ratings. Yoon’s imposition of martial law, which lasted only six hours, was aimed at quelling parliamentary action against his policies. However, it led to massive public outcry, with many accusing him of undermining the constitution by deploying military forces to interfere with the National Assembly.

The impeachment suspends Yoon’s presidential duties while the Constitutional Court reviews the case, which could take up to six months. 

If the court upholds the impeachment, Yoon will be removed from office, and a new presidential election will be called within 60 days. The martial law order, the first in South Korea in over 40 years, triggered widespread protests and political instability, further exacerbated by accusations that Yoon was attempting to subvert democratic processes. 

The legal implications for Yoon are serious, as charges of rebellion and abuse of power are being considered, and he could face significant penalties, including life imprisonment