4-12-2024 (SEOUL) South Korea’s political landscape has been thrown into turmoil as the main opposition Democratic Party called for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s immediate resignation or face impeachment, following his unprecedented short-lived declaration of martial law that sparked national controversy.
The dramatic sequence of events began Tuesday night when President Yoon imposed emergency martial law, citing the need to combat “anti-state” forces. The measure, lasting merely six hours, was swiftly overturned by parliament in a decisive 190-0 vote, marking a significant challenge to presidential authority.
In an extraordinary scene not witnessed since the 1980s, armed troops surrounded the National Assembly building, with military helicopters hovering overhead. The deployment of soldiers in full combat gear drew immediate parallels to South Korea’s authoritarian past, raising concerns about democratic backsliding in the nation.
The Democratic Party, which commands a majority in the 300-seat parliament, condemned the president’s actions as “a clear violation of the constitution” and “a grave act of rebellion.” The party’s statement emphasised that the martial law declaration failed to meet constitutional requirements, providing grounds for impeachment proceedings.
The political crisis has already prompted senior presidential advisers to tender their collective resignations, while President Yoon cancelled his scheduled appearances. The ruling People Power Party has also shown signs of fracture, with some members joining the opposition in voting against the martial law declaration.
Constitutional experts note that impeachment would require a two-thirds majority in parliament, or 200 votes. The opposition coalition currently holds 192 seats, but the recent unanimous vote against martial law suggests potential support from ruling party members.
The White House expressed “serious concern” over the developments, revealing that the Biden administration had not been notified in advance of the martial law declaration. Pentagon officials, however, confirmed that the crisis has not affected the 27,000 U.S. service members stationed in South Korea.
The political standoff emerged from ongoing disputes over the national budget and opposition efforts to impeach three senior prosecutors. President Yoon’s televised announcement had characterised his opponents as “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces,” though North Korea has not commented on the situation.
