South Korea's President Yoon impeached over martial law bid

South Korean lawmakers voted Saturday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt to impose martial law, with the opposition declaring it a "victory of the people."

This vote came after a week of intense political drama, triggered by Yoon’s unsuccessful martial law bid on December 3. On the same day, hundreds of thousands of people rallied in Seoul, both for and against Yoon, according to AFP.

Following the vote, Yoon addressed the public on television, stating he would "step aside" but did not apologize for his actions. Of the 300 lawmakers, 204 voted for impeachment on charges of insurrection, 85 voted against, and three abstained, with eight votes nullified. Yoon has now been suspended from office while the Constitutional Court reviews the decision, with 180 days to rule on his fate. If upheld, he will become only the second South Korean president to be successfully impeached.

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Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, now acting president, pledged to focus on ensuring stable governance. For the impeachment to pass, opposition lawmakers needed to persuade at least eight members from Yoon's People Power Party to support the motion.

Following the vote, opposition Democratic Party leader Park Chan-dae hailed the decision as a "great victory for the people." Meanwhile, outside parliament, an estimated 200,000 people gathered in support of Yoon’s removal, while around 30,000 rallied for the president.

Supporters of the impeachment criticized Yoon's actions as a threat to the Constitution and democracy, with some protesters braving freezing temperatures. K-pop star Yuri of Girls' Generation expressed her support for the movement, while some attendees even organized facilities for families with young children.

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There is historical precedent for the court blocking an impeachment: in 2004, President Roh Moo-hyun was briefly removed from office, only to be reinstated by the Constitutional Court. The court currently has six judges, and any ruling must be unanimous. In response, parliament speaker Woo Won-shik announced plans to nominate three additional judges.

Yoon remained defiant in the face of the crisis, with his approval rating falling to just 11 percent, while a poll showed that 75 percent of South Koreans supported his impeachment.

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