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In a dramatic political turn of events, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is on the verge of being impeached after a vote against him was boycotted by ruling party lawmakers on Saturday.
The move sent the parliament into a state of high tension, with several lawmakers leaving the chamber moments before a vote to impeach President Yoon for imposing a brief period of martial law earlier in the week. Only two lawmakers remained inside, while the lone ruling party member who returned voted against the motion.
For the vote to be valid, at least 200 lawmakers must be present. Outside the main chamber, opposition lawmakers were heard shouting “Get back inside!” and calling them “cowards.”
The vote is underway, but it is likely to be declared void, as there will not be enough lawmakers present to pass the motion. Less than two-thirds of lawmakers now remain in the chamber.
If it fails, as expected, the next available date for a vote by lawmakers on impeaching President Yoon is Wednesday, December 11.
Earlier in the day, Yoon apologized to the nation in his first public statements since his failed attempt to declare martial law, which plunged the country into political chaos and led to calls for his impeachment.
“This declaration of a martial state of emergency comes out of my desperation as the last person in charge of state affairs,” Yoon said in a two-minute speech.
“I am deeply sorry and sincerely apologize to the citizens who must have been greatly shocked,” Yoon added, acknowledging that he had “caused anxiety and inconvenience” to South Korean citizens.
Yoon has said he “will not shirk the legal and political responsibility for this declaration of martial law.”
The furor erupted late Tuesday night, when Yoon declared martial law in an unannounced televised address, accusing the main opposition party of sympathizing with North Korea and carrying out “anti-state activities.” He cited a motion by the Democratic Party, which holds the majority in parliament, to remove top prosecutors and reject a proposed government budget.
Yet, within six hours, the president had to backtrack, with lawmakers forcing their way past soldiers to the parliament to vote unanimously against the decree.
Addressing rumors that martial law would be reinstated, Yoon said, “There will absolutely be no second attempt at a constitutional amendment.”
“I will entrust my party with the means to stabilize the political situation, including for the remainder of my term.. I apologize to citizens for the concerns I have caused,” Yoon concluded as he stepped down from the podium and bowed.
The declaration of a military emergency, though brief, sparked shock and anger across the country, which was scarred by the brutality of martial law during decades of military dictatorship before winning a long and bloody battle for democracy in the 1980s.
Pressure on Yoon has intensified in recent days, with protesters and opposition figures calling for his removal from office — and support waning even within his own party and the military.
Even if he survives the vote, Yoon’s future remains uncertain after his party leader declared his resignation “inevitable.”
Speaking to reporters Friday, Han Dong-hoon, leader of Yoon’s own People Power Party, said he was “impossible for the president to continue his normal duties.”
On Friday, Han said Yoon should be suspended immediately from his duties to protect the country from “grave danger,” in a dramatic reversal of opinion that has increased pressure on the president ahead of an impeachment vote in parliament.
Yoon’s apology came as new details emerged about the list of arrests the president has drawn up during the crisis, a significant shift that prompted Han to call for Yoon’s suspension on Friday.
Shortly after martial law was declared, Yoon reportedly told Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, over the phone that he must “stop and clean up.”
Yoon reportedly said he would give the intelligence service the authority to launch a counterintelligence investigation and “support it with funds and personnel unconditionally.”
The details were revealed to reporters by lawmakers briefed on the phone conversation, and Hong confirmed the truth of the contents to CNN.
Hong reportedly learned of the list through the Defense Counterintelligence (DCC) unit later and called it “crazy,” the lawmakers quoted him as saying.
Han was on the arrest list, along with a host of politicians, including Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.
This story has been updated.
In this complex and turbulent political web, President Yoon Suk Yeol is trying to survive unprecedented turmoil as forces from the opposition and even his own party gang up on him. South Korea’s political future remains uncertain as the country faces unprecedented upheaval.
The situation is evolving rapidly, and staying abreast of developments is crucial to understanding the political stakes at stake and the implications of these events for the future of the Korean nation.