South Korea in Turmoil as Opposition Pushes for President Yoon’s Impeachment
South Korea is grappling with political chaos after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial attempt to impose martial law, which was swiftly overturned amid public outrage and parliamentary intervention.
The drama unfolded Tuesday night when Yoon’s martial law order sent shockwaves through the country, prompting 190 lawmakers to convene and vote against it.
By Wednesday morning, opposition lawmakers, led by the Democratic Party, initiated impeachment proceedings against Yoon, accusing him of « insurrectionary behavior » and demanding accountability for what they called an unprecedented attack on democracy.
The Democratic Party has also implicated Interior Minister Lee Sang-min and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun as key figures behind the martial law declaration, calling for their prosecution alongside Yoon on charges of « rebellion. »
In Seoul, daily life has continued relatively undisturbed, but protests have intensified. Crowds filled the streets chanting for Yoon’s arrest, while the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions announced an indefinite strike until the president resigns.
Adding to the uncertainty, senior presidential aides, including Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk, have tendered their resignations.
Meanwhile, the presidential office has defended the martial law order as « constitutional » and aimed at protecting the economy and public safety.
The National Assembly has until Saturday to decide Yoon’s fate, with the nation’s democratic integrity hanging in the balance.
