South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is currently facing the threat of impeachment after declaring martial law, a move that opposition lawmakers are calling a violation of his constitutional duty and a crime akin to treason. The martial law declaration was lifted just hours after the opposition-controlled parliament rejected Yoon’s attempt to ban political activity and censor the media.
The impeachment process in South Korea requires a two-thirds majority vote by the members of parliament to pass a motion against the president. The Constitutional Court then conducts a trial to determine whether the president violated the law. Currently, the main opposition Democratic Party, along with smaller parties, have 192 seats in parliament, just short of the 200 required to impeach the president.
If the parliament votes to impeach, the president is suspended from exercising his powers until the Constitutional Court holds an impeachment trial. The Court has up to six months to confirm the impeachment by a vote of six out of the nine justices. If the president is removed from office, a new presidential election must be held within 60 days.
The only democratically elected leader to be impeached in South Korea was former President Park Geun-hye, who was accused of colluding in an influence-peddling scheme and abusing her authority. Park, the daughter of former President Park Chung-hee, was impeached in December 2016 and later sentenced to 20 years in prison. She served almost five years before being released on medical grounds and pardoned in 2021.
In 2004, then-President Roh Moo-hyun was impeached on the charge of failing to maintain political neutrality. However, the motion was rejected by the Constitutional Court, and Roh was able to serve a full five-year term.
The fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol now rests in the hands of parliament and the Constitutional Court as they navigate the impeachment process. The political landscape in South Korea is tense as the country grapples with the possibility of removing its leader from office.
