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used images: South Korea Impeached President Yoon Seok-yeol, Koreans calls for his removal from office // Internet

© Davydov O.V., 16.12.2024

Recently, the National Assembly (Parliament) of South Korea passed a bill for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol following his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country. He faces charges regarding the illegality of this decision, which violated constitutional provisions and failed to meet the necessary legal conditions and procedures.

A total of 204 out of 300 members of parliament voted in favor of impeachment, achieving the required two-thirds majority. The first attempt to remove the president, which took place the week before, had failed due to a boycott of the vote by members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). However, this time, several members from the PPP joined the opposition, ensuring the success of the vote. Consequently, the president has been suspended from performing his duties until the Constitutional Court reaches a final decision on the matter.

During this period, all presidential powers have been transferred to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. He has pledged to stabilize state affairs and make efforts to minimize the political crisis’s impact on the lives of the people. Han Duck-soo has already held discussions with Joe Biden, reassuring him of South Korea’s continued commitment to strengthening its alliance with Washington. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held meetings with the heads of missions of South Korea’s key partners (the United States, Japan, and China) to affirm the country’s commitment to continuity and stability in its diplomatic relations.

The citizens of South Korea have generally welcomed the National Assembly’s decision. For many protesters who had gathered in front of the National Assembly building to oppose Yoon’s policies, the outcome of the vote brought relief after a period of uncertainty and the threat of the situation descending either into a military dictatorship or, conversely, into chaos and loss of control. Public opinion polls indicate that only 11% of respondents approve of the president’s actions, while 75% support the impeachment decision.

Nevertheless, the situation in the country remains complex, and the prospects for a swift normalization and return to the status quo appear uncertain. Yoon Suk-yeol, known for his resolute and unyielding character, has already declared that he has no intention of stepping down and will not resign voluntarily. Moreover, he maintains that all of his recent decisions were justified and cannot be regarded as attempts at insurrection or treason, despite the claims of the opposition to the contrary.

The president’s support base, although somewhat narrowed in recent days, continues to receive understanding from an «active minority». This group is primarily composed of the conservative segment of society, as well as many members of the older generation, who advocate for «strong governance» and emphasize the need for decisive military and political measures to counter the North Korean threat and combat pro-North Korean sympathies. In Seoul, rallies take place across different parts of the city, not only by opponents but also by supporters of President Yoon. The latter, following the president’s lead, assert that the previous presidential elections in South Korea were rigged, and that pro-North Korean elements have infiltrated opposition ranks. The National Election Commission rejects these allegations, along with the conspiratorial «theories of a coup», but various speculations on the matter continue.

In addition, a significant number of citizens harbor concerns that the actions of the parliamentary opposition are not driven by a genuine intention to restore constitutional order and democratic principles, but rather by personal vendettas against the president and his supporters. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the largest Democratic Party (DP), has long been an adversary of Yoon Suk-yeol, having lost the 2022 presidential election to him by a narrow margin of 0.7% of the popular vote. It should also be noted that following his disappointing defeat, the opposition leader became entangled in numerous criminal and legal proceedings on various charges, and he was interrogated as a suspect regarding several alleged offenses. Lee has, of course, denied all accusations, claiming that they were «politically motivated decisions» orchestrated by the presidential team. Now, the leadership of the Democratic Party, which holds a majority in parliament, seems to be seeking a form of political revenge, capitalizing on the current situation to «expel» political opponents from power structures and to strengthen its position on the national political stage.

The ruling party is currently undergoing a severe crisis due to internal divisions regarding the president’s performance and the impeachment decision, as well as the sharp decline in public support for the People Power Party (PPP). Party leadership has resigned, and political circles are discussing the need for deep reforms within the party, which is seen as the only way for conservatives to retain their influence.

Nevertheless, immediately following the failure of the president’s plans and the National Assembly’s decision to annul his orders, a vigorous response was initiated by South Korean law enforcement agencies to identify those involved in carrying out the president’s directives. This has resulted in a sort of competition among government agencies to determine which body is responsible for investigating the events. As a result, some law enforcement officers are now interrogating others—those who had the misfortune of being aligned with Yoon Suk-yeol during the recent developments. The enthusiasm of those initiating these investigations is intensifying, although there is as yet no clear or final legal assessment of the president’s actions in terms of compliance with existing laws.

Currently, there is confusion within the executive bodies, especially in the law enforcement structures, caused by the dismissals, arrests, detentions, and interrogations of high-ranking officials suspected of aiding the president in implementing the decision to impose «martial law» and associated actions. The circle of these individuals has been steadily expanding and now includes ministers of defense, internal affairs, heads of the police, military counterintelligence, national intelligence service, special operations forces, and the defense of the capital.

Despite a relatively smooth transfer of power to the prime minister, administrative chaos persists due to a political vacuum in the highest echelons of power. After a series of resignations, key positions in the cabinet remain vacant. The position of the head of the Cabinet and the acting president, Han Dok Su, also appears unstable, as the opposition suspects that he may have been involved in the preparation for the imposition of martial law. These accusations seem to remain in force, though they have not yet been acted upon to prevent the complete collapse of the executive branch.

The impeachment case has now been transferred to the Constitutional Court (CC), which must review it within 180 days and make a decision by a two-thirds majority of its nine members. However, the situation is complicated by the fact that the court currently has only six judges, with three vacancies remaining due to a lack of consensus between the ruling party and the opposition regarding the nominees. This means that a unanimous decision of all judges will be required to proceed with impeachment, which is not guaranteed.

Thus, despite the statements by opposition leaders claiming a «decisive victory for democracy and the people,» the situation in the country remains highly complicated and fraught with potential new developments. In a context where many political institutions in South Korea have demonstrated their weakness, and the credibility of state authorities has been undermined, much now depends on the subsequent actions of the Democratic Party (DP), which has temporarily become the leading political force in the country. Specifically, it will depend on the ability of its leadership to resist the temptation to exploit the situation for short-term gains, and instead propose a platform for broad public dialogue involving «progressives» conservatives, and moderates in the interest of addressing the numerous pressing issues facing the country.