Military Emergency Controversy That Ended In The Impeachment Of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol

The protesters were near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Saturday (14/12/2024), urging President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment. (Korea Herald)

JAKARTA The sudden military emergency statement by President Yoon Suk-yeol resulted in his impeachment on Saturday (12/14/2024). This also made him the third president of South Korea to be suspended from office by the National Assembly.

Now Suk-yeol's political fate is in the hands of the Constitutional Court. The impeachment process took weeks, because the trial still had to be held at the Constitutional Court. If six of the nine judges choose to maintain impeachment, then the president will be removed from his position.

This is the second impeachment attempt after President Yoon declared a controversial military emergency on December 3.

President Yoon Suk-yeol suddenly announced martial law on December 3 at 23:00 local time. This decision was taken to protect the country from parties trying to paralyze the country's function and destroy the constitutional order of liberal democracy.

He also argued that the decision was taken to expel North Korean communist forces and eliminate anti-state groups. After the announcement, all political activities, meetings, and demonstrations were banned throughout South Korea. But the imposition of martial law did not last long.

Six hours later, Yoon announced the revocation of martial law after the National Assembly by voting asked him to end the status.

Opposition parties filed a motion to impeach Yoon to the National Assembly on December 4. But impeachment motion failed to be approved because it was signed by 191 opposition lawmakers without the support of lawmakers from the ruling People's Power Party (PPP).

The South Korean Constitution said that at least two-thirds of the 300 lawmakers must vote in favor of passing the impeachment motion.

The Democratic Party and five other parties again filed a impeachment motion against Yoon on December 12. Through a vote held on Saturday (14/12), the National Assembly approved Yoon's impeachment of his decision to impose a military emergency on December 3.

All 300 members of parliament participated in the vote. As a result, 204 votes agreed, 85 refused, three abstentions, and four other votes were invalid.

When the results were announced, cheers exploded from the side of the Democratic Party, while members of the ruling party secretly left the room.

After the impeachment motion is passed by parliament and Yoon's presidency is suspended, the next process will take place at the Constitutional Court. In this process, it will be decided whether Yoon's position will be removed or he can return to the position.

If it is decided to be removed, then Yoon will be the second president of South Korea to be impeached after Park Geun-hye in 2017.

Yoon Suk-yeol is a beginner in the world of politics. But he was elected president in March 2022, just eight months after swerved to politics in June 2021, even though he previously had a career as a prosecutor.

Lack of experience Yoon made him less prepared to navigate established political processes. Therefore, Yoon's military emergency decree is the result of very personal factors, including neglect of political norms such as dialogue and consensus development, as well as lack of experience in managing the dynamics of complicated government.

"The question ultimately leads to whether this is an institutional or structural weakness problem or an individual violation problem. In my view, the impact of individual violations is significant," said Shin Jung-sub, professor of political science at Soongsil University.

Meanwhile, the professor of political science at the University of Sogang observed that Yoon's decision to announce a military emergency with a clear intention to suspend the legislative function.

Throughout his tenure as president, Yoon has taken a number of actions that show his 'disgust' to politics. He became South Korea's first president in 11 years to miss the Assembly plenary session for his annual budget speech last November.

In addition, Yoon's first meeting with Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung only took place in April last year, or 720 days after he was sworn in. This is the longest delay since Korea became a democracy in 1988.

In comparison, the previous record was held by President Kim Young-sam, who took 110 days to meet opposition leaders.

The main opposition leader must be challenged through a legitimate democratic competition, which encourages political competition instead of relying on legal risks and awaiting a court ruling, Lee Jae-mook said, emphasizing the lack of political dialogue between Yoon and opposition parties.

After the voting was announced, again Into the New World, which was popularized by the K-Pop Girls Generation group, was announced by thousands of protesters. People rejoiced, singing together accompanied by fireworks that exploded overhead.

The announcement of impeachment also received support from a number of Korean artists and cafes by providing free food to protesters.

Korean pop idol IU, for example, distributed warm food, drinks, and warm-up to those who supported president Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, his agency said.

Edam Entertainment, in an official upload, said that the singer wanted to provide warmth to Uena, a designation for IU fans, who attended a demonstration in the midst of cold weather.

"We hope Uen's hands, which brighten the atmosphere, will be a little warmer," wrote the upload.

The food provided by IU includes 100 servings of bread, 100 drinks, 100 bowls of soup, 100 bowls of beef soup, and 100 servings of rice cakes.

The agency also said that anyone, even a non-official fan club member, could receive warm food and packages based on who first came, first served in the demonstration.

Meanwhile, Yuri, a member of the very popular girl band, Girls Generation, has also prepared food for fans who participated in the demonstration.