South Korea’s main opposition party on Wednesday demanded that President Yoon Suk Yeol resign immediately or face impeachment. This came just hours after Yoon revoked his declaration of martial law, which had led to troops encircling the parliament before lawmakers voted to overturn the measure.
On Tuesday night, Yoon abruptly declared martial law, claiming it was necessary to eliminate “anti-state forces” after encountering resistance to his agenda in the opposition-controlled parliament. The measure lasted only six hours, as the National Assembly swiftly voted to overrule him. The martial law was formally lifted at approximately 4:30 a.m. during a Cabinet meeting.
The Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the 300-seat legislature, condemned Yoon’s actions as unconstitutional.
“President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration was a blatant violation of the constitution. It failed to meet any requirements for such an action and was fundamentally invalid,” the party stated. “This act of rebellion justifies immediate impeachment.”
Impeachment would require a two-thirds majority, or 200 votes, in parliament. The Democratic Party and smaller opposition groups collectively hold 192 seats. However, the martial law rejection vote—190-0—suggested that some members of Yoon’s ruling People Power Party supported the opposition, raising the likelihood of bipartisan backing for impeachment.
If impeached, Yoon would be stripped of his powers pending a Constitutional Court ruling. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the government’s second-highest official, would assume Yoon’s responsibilities in the interim.
Historical echoes of martial law
Yoon’s declaration of martial law was the first in South Korea in over four decades, a move that evoked the nation’s military-dominated past. Until the late 1980s, South Korean governments occasionally imposed martial law to suppress dissent, deploying troops, tanks, and armoured vehicles on the streets. Tuesday night’s events, with soldiers and police encircling parliament, brought back unsettling memories for many.
Protesters gathered outside the parliamentary compound as heavily armed troops secured the premises. An Associated Press photographer reported seeing at least three helicopters land within the Assembly grounds, while others hovered overhead. Fortunately, no significant violence was reported, and the military presence dissipated after the National Assembly’s vote.
Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik commented,
“Despite our painful history of military coups, today demonstrated the maturity of our democratic institutions.”
Domestic and international reactions
Within Yoon’s own ruling party, dissent is growing. People Power Party member Han Dong-hun demanded explanations from the president and called for the dismissal of Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun, whom he blamed for advising Yoon to impose martial law.
South Korean media reported that several presidential aides had offered their resignations, and Yoon delayed his official schedule on Wednesday morning. The presidential office has yet to confirm these reports.
Internationally, the United States expressed concern. A White House National Security Council spokesperson stated that President Joe Biden’s administration was not informed beforehand and was in contact with the South Korean government. Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder assured that the martial law declaration had no impact on the 27,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.
Under South Korean law, martial law can only be declared during wartime or other extraordinary emergencies requiring military intervention. Many legal experts and observers questioned whether the current situation met those criteria.
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“The constitution explicitly requires the president to comply with a National Assembly vote to lift martial law,” one constitutional scholar noted.
Rising tensions in governance
The declaration follows escalating tensions between Yoon’s administration and the opposition over next year’s budget and an opposition-led initiative to impeach three senior prosecutors. During his announcement, Yoon labelled opposition lawmakers as “pro-North Korean anti-state forces,” though he offered no evidence to support this accusation.
Natalia Slavney, an analyst at the Stimson Centre, described Yoon’s actions as a democratic regression.
“This is a troubling sign of authoritarian tendencies since Yoon’s inauguration in 2022,” Slavney remarked. “South Korea has a proud tradition of political pluralism and accountability, as demonstrated by the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye in 2017.”
Yoon’s martial law declaration and its swift overturn highlight the deep political divisions in South Korea. As calls for his resignation grow louder, the country faces a crucial moment in its democratic journey.
