What Happened on December 3rd?
On December 3rd, 2024, at 10:25 PM, President Yoon Suk-yeol unexpectedly declared martial law. This was the first such declaration in 45 years, since 1979, and the first since South Korea's democratization in 1987.
Why Did He Do It?
President Yoon criticized the National Assembly for repeatedly impeaching government officials and causing budgetary deadlocks, which he claimed were paralyzing the government. He described these actions as "anti-state behavior that undermines the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea."
How Did the National Assembly React?
The National Assembly reacted swiftly and decisively. Speaker Woo Won-shik called all lawmakers to the Assembly floor, and some even scaled walls to enter, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
The End of Martial Law
By 1:00 AM on December 4th, the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law, with 190 out of 300 lawmakers present. In response, President Yoon officially rescinded the martial law declaration at 4:30 AM.
The Impeachment Attempt
Following the martial law crisis, opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea and five others, proposed an impeachment motion against President Yoon. They argued that his declaration of martial law violated constitutional principles, including the sovereignty of the people and the separation of powers.
The Big Vote
On December 7th, the impeachment motion was brought to a vote. However, members of the ruling People Power Party staged a mass walkout, preventing the quorum of 200 votes needed for the motion to pass. As a result, the motion failed.
The Successful Impeachment
Undeterred, the National Assembly scheduled a second impeachment vote for December 14th. This time, the motion passed with 204 votes in favor, including 12 from President Yoon's own party, and 85 against. Consequently, President Yoon was suspended from his duties, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo assumed the role of acting president.
So, What’s Next?
The Constitutional Court now has up to 180 days to decide whether to uphold the impeachment. If they do, a presidential election must be held within 60 days. In the meantime, the nation remains in a state of political uncertainty, with citizens and officials alike awaiting the Court's decision.
