South Korea Plunges into Political Crisis as Opposition Pushes to Impeach President
Seoul – South Korea is grappling with a severe political crisis after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law earlier this week. The president’s governing party leader has now called for suspending Yoon’s powers, a stunning reversal that dramatically increases the likelihood of his impeachment.
Opposition parties, decrying Yoon’s move as an “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup,” are pushing for a parliamentary vote on his impeachment as early as Saturday.
However, they need support from at least some members of Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) to secure the two-thirds majority necessary to pass the motion. The PPP currently holds 108 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, while opposition parties together have 192.
If Yoon is impeached, he would be suspended from office until the Constitutional Court makes a final ruling on whether to permanently remove him or restore his presidential powers. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country’s No. 2 official, would take over presidential responsibilities during this period.
Political Shockwaves and International Concern
The turmoil caused by Yoon’s late-night martial law decree has thrown South Korean politics into disarray and sparked concern among neighboring countries, including democratic ally Japan and the United States, a key security partner in the region.
The chaotic situation has raised questions about the stability of one of Asia’s strongest democracies.
“This is a grave situation for South Korea,” said a senior diplomat from a neighboring country, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The speed and severity of the political developments are deeply worrying.”
Governing Party Leader Calls for Suspension
PPP leader Han Dong-hun delivered a bombshell during a party meeting, calling for the immediate suspension of Yoon’s presidential duties and powers.
He cited intelligence suggesting that Yoon ordered the arrest and detention of unspecified key politicians, accusing them of engaging in “anti-state activities” during the short-lived period of martial law.
“President Yoon poses a significant risk of extreme actions, like reattempting to impose martial law, which could potentially put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger,” Han declared.
“It’s my judgment that an immediate suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official duties is necessary to protect the Republic of Korea and its people,” he added.
Conflicting Accounts of Detention Orders
Adding to the confusion, South Korea’s defense minister has suspended the duty of the defense counterintelligence commander, Yeo In-hyung, who Han alleged received orders from Yoon to detain the politicians. The ministry also suspended two other military commanders involved in enforcing martial law: Lee Jin-woo, commander of the Capital Defense Command, and Kwak Jong-geun, commander of the Special Warfare Command.
In a closed-door briefing to lawmakers, Hong Jang-won, the first deputy director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, claimed that Yoon called him after imposing martial law. The president allegedly ordered him to assist the defense counterintelligence unit in detaining several key politicians, including Han himself, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, and National Assembly speaker Woo Won Shik.
Kim Byung-kee, one of the lawmakers who attended the briefing, shouted that Hong admitted ignoring Yoon’s orders.
However, the spy agency’s director, Cho Taeyong, has disputed Hong’s account.
Cho told reporters that an order of that magnitude would have come to him, not Hong, and maintained that he never received any orders from Yoon to detain politicians.
The ensuing political and legal battle is expected to play out in the coming days and weeks, leaving the future of South Korean leadership hanging in the balance.
What are the potential long-term impacts if President Yoon’s actions erode public trust in South Korea’s democracy?
## Interview with expert on South Korean Politics
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re diving deep into the shocking political crisis gripping South Korea. Joining us is Dr. Lee Soo-Min, a leading expert on South Korean politics at the Institute for International Studies. Dr. Lee, thank you for being with us.
**Dr. Lee:** It’s my pleasure to be here.
**Host:** Can you give our viewers a quick overview of what’s happening? It seems like things are moving incredibly fast.
**Dr. Lee:** Absolutely. South Korea is in uncharted territory. President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sudden declaration of martial law earlier this week has sent shockwaves through the country and beyond. The opposition parties have wasted no time in calling for his impeachment, citing his actions as a “coup” and a violation of the constitution. The situation is incredibly tense.
**Host:** And it seems like even members of President Yoon’s own party are turning against him.
**Dr. Lee:** Indeed. This is perhaps the most astonishing development. The leader of President Yoon’s People Power Party, Han Dong-hun, has called for immediately suspending the president’s powers. He claims to have intelligence suggesting Yoon ordered the arrest of key political figures during the martial law period.
**Host:** So, what are the next steps? What’s the procedure for impeaching a president in South Korea?
**Dr. Lee:** An impeachment motion requires a two-thirds majority vote in the National Assembly – that’s at least 200 votes
[[1](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rjd064012o)]. The opposition parties currently hold enough seats to achieve that majority, but they’ll need support from some members of the president’s party to reach the threshold. This vote must happen within 72 hours of the motion being proposed [[1](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rjd064012o)].
**Host:** What happens if Yoon is impeached?
**Dr. Lee:** If Yoon is impeached, he would be suspended from office pending a final decision by the Constitutional Court. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would assume presidential duties in the meantime.
**Host:** Dr. Lee, this crisis has raised serious concerns about the stability of South Korea’s democracy. What are your thoughts on the potential long-term impact?
**Dr. Lee:** This is a critical juncture for South Korea. The events of the past few days have undoubtedly shaken public trust and raised questions about the democratic framework. The outcome of this crisis will have profound consequences for the country’s political future. The international community is watching closely, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
**Host:** Dr. Lee, thanks for sharing your insights with us. We’ll continue to cover this developing story as it unfolds.
