South Korean Lawmakers Invokes Martial Law, Impeach President In Landslide Vote

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Impeached Following Brief Declaration of Martial Law

On Saturday, South Korean lawmakers voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after his short-lived declaration of martial law.

As a result of the impeachment, Yoon is automatically suspended from office while the Constitutional Court deliberates his future.

His presidential powers will formally be suspended once he receives a copy of the impeachment resolution.

In the interim, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will serve as acting president until the Constitutional Court addresses the matter.

The court has 180 days to make a ruling on Yoon’s fate. If it upholds his impeachment, Yoon will become the second president in South Korea’s history to be successfully removed from office.

A dozen members of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party joined forces with opposition lawmakers to surpass the threshold of 200 votes, which is two-thirds of the legislators required for impeachment.

The final tally was 204 in favour, with 85 against.

Outside the National Assembly, passionate cheers erupted from a large crowd of pro-impeachment protesters, many of whom had set up stalls offering free coffee and food for fellow participants.

“This is a victory for democracy and the South Korean people,” declared Park Chan-dae, the opposition party floor leader, after the vote.