South Korea's president Yoon Suk Yeol impeached

SEOUL,— South Korea’s parliament voted Saturday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol following his brief declaration of martial law, marking a historic move in the nation’s democratic history.

The vote, which passed with 204 in favor and 85 opposed, led to the suspension of Yoon’s presidential duties. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country’s second-highest official, will assume the president’s responsibilities until the Constitutional Court makes its decision.

According to the National Assembly, copies of the impeachment documents will be delivered to both Yoon and the court, which now has up to 180 days to rule on whether Yoon will be permanently removed from office or have his powers reinstated. If the court decides to oust Yoon, a national election must be held within 60 days to choose a new president.

This was the second impeachment vote against Yoon in just over a week. A prior vote on December 3 failed after most lawmakers from his ruling party boycotted.

However, several members of the People Power Party, the president’s party, announced they would back the impeachment in this second round, spurred by growing public protests and a sharp decline in Yoon’s approval ratings.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik said the vote reflected the people’s “strong desire for democracy” and their commitment to upholding the nation’s values. In contrast, Yoon’s supporters gathered in a plaza in central Seoul to express their discontent over the impeachment, though the rallies remained peaceful.

Yoon responded to the vote by vowing to “never give up” and urged government officials to maintain stability during what he described as a “temporary” suspension of his presidency.

In a statement, Yoon expressed his gratitude for the public’s support and promised to continue working for the nation “until the very last moment.”

Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law on December 3, which lasted just six hours, sparked a political crisis, suspended diplomatic activities, and sent shockwaves through South Korea’s financial markets. Yoon lifted the martial law decree after the National Assembly voted unanimously to overturn it.

The decree, which saw hundreds of military and police personnel deployed to parliament in an attempt to block the vote, was met with accusations of rebellion.

Critics, including opposition parties and legal experts, argue that Yoon’s actions violated the constitution. Under South Korean law, the president may only impose martial law during wartime or national emergencies.

The impeachment motion specifically accused Yoon of committing “rebellion” by mobilizing security forces to disrupt parliament’s operations. It also alleged that his actions posed a threat to national peace and the democratic order.

(With files from AP)