Lawmakers in South Korea formally began deliberations on Saturday over the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his controversial martial law attempt. Meanwhile, thousands gathered in Seoul in rival demonstrations either supporting or opposing his removal.
The parliamentary session to discuss Yoon’s impeachment started shortly after 4:00 pm (0700 GMT), a week after a previous bid to oust him failed. For the impeachment to succeed, 200 votes are required, necessitating support from at least eight members of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party (PPP). So far, seven lawmakers from the PPP have expressed their intention to back the motion.
According to Seoul police, around 200,000 people rallied outside the National Assembly, calling for Yoon’s impeachment.
“If Yoon isn’t impeached today, I’ll be back next week,” declared Yoo Hee-jin, a 24-year-old protester. “I’ll keep coming every week until it happens.”
Conversely, thousands gathered near Gwanghwamun Square in a show of support for Yoon, singing patriotic songs and waving both South Korean and American flags.
“Yoon had no choice but to declare martial law. I stand by every decision he has made as president,” said Choi Hee-sun, a 62-year-old supporter.
President Yoon remains resolute, doubling down on his unverified claims that the opposition is conspiring with communist adversaries. The Democratic Party, South Korea’s main opposition, has labelled impeachment as the “only way” to protect the nation’s democracy, rule of law, and constitutional integrity. “We can no longer tolerate Yoon’s madness,” said party spokeswoman Hwang Jung-a.
At the impeachment rally, organisers distributed free hand warmers, coffee, and food to help protesters endure the freezing temperatures. Yuri, a member of the K-pop group Girls’ Generation, whose song Into the New World has become a protest anthem, provided pre-paid food for attendees. “Stay safe and take care of your health!” she wrote on a fan chat platform.
One protester shared how she rented a bus to provide a space for parents to care for their children. Another attendee, Kim Deuk-yun, 58, revealed they had initially planned to spend the day hiking but instead joined the demonstration to show solidarity.
If the impeachment motion passes, President Yoon would be suspended while South Korea’s Constitutional Court reviews the case. In the interim, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would assume the presidency. The court would have 180 days to decide Yoon’s fate. Should the court uphold the impeachment, Yoon would become only the second president in South Korea’s history to be removed through this process.
However, there is precedent for the court to overturn an impeachment. In 2004, the court reinstated then-president Roh Moo-hyun after parliament removed him for alleged election law breaches and incompetence. In Yoon’s case, the court’s decision must be unanimous, as it currently has only six judges.
Even if impeachment fails, legal consequences may still await Yoon. Kim Hyun-jung, a researcher at Korea University’s Institute of Law, characterised the martial law bid as an “act of insurrection.” She argued that the president could still face charges under the Criminal Code, regardless of the parliamentary outcome.
Yoon’s approval ratings have plunged to just 11 percent, according to a Gallup Korea poll released on Friday. The same poll revealed that 75 percent of respondents support his impeachment, highlighting the widespread dissatisfaction with his leadership.
