South Korean Lawmakers Invokes Martial Law, Impeach President In Landslide Vote

On Saturday, South Korean lawmakers voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after his short-lived declaration of martial law.

As a result of the impeachment, Yoon is automatically suspended from office while the Constitutional Court deliberates his future.

His presidential powers will formally be suspended once he receives a copy of the impeachment resolution.

In the interim, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will serve as acting president until the Constitutional Court addresses the matter.

The court has 180 days to make a ruling on Yoon’s fate. If it upholds his impeachment, Yoon will become the second president in South Korea’s history to be successfully removed from office.

A dozen members of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party joined forces with opposition lawmakers to surpass the threshold of 200 votes, which is two-thirds of the legislators required for impeachment.

The final tally was 204 in favour, with 85 against.

Outside the National Assembly, passionate cheers erupted from a large crowd of pro-impeachment protesters, many of whom had set up stalls offering free coffee and food for fellow participants.

“This is a victory for democracy and the South Korean people,” declared Park Chan-dae, the opposition party floor leader, after the vote.