Republic of Korea (ROK) lawmakers introduced a bill on Wednesday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law late on Tuesday, only to reverse it hours later, causing a political crisis in the nation, triggering a standoff between the president and parliament.
Yeol’s decision to impose martial law included attempts to ban political activities, control the media, and restrict parliament’s operations,
In response, armed troops attempted to seize control of the National Assembly building, but were met with resistance from lawmakers, who sprayed fire extinguishers and blocked their entry, Reuters reported.
By early Wednesday morning, ROK’s parliament had unanimously voted to lift the martial law, with 190 of its 300 members present, including members of Yeol’s own “People Power Party.”
Widespread outburst
In a rare display of unity, parliament passed the motion, forcing the president to retract the declaration just six hours after announcing it. Protesters outside the National Assembly cheered and chanted as the decision was reversed, marking a significant moment in the nation’s political history.
The opposition Democratic Party (DP), which has been critical of Yeol since his inauguration in 2022, moved swiftly to submit a bill to impeach the president. Within Yeol’s own ruling People Power Party, divisions emerged. Some members called for Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to be dismissed and for the entire cabinet to resign, which led the minister to leave his post.
Six opposition parties backed the bill, accusing Yeol of abusing his power and undermining ROK’s democratic institutions. DP argued that Yeol’s actions were illegal and called for his resignation. Lawmaker Kim Yong-min from DP remarked, “We can no longer let democracy collapse,” highlighting the grave nature of the crisis.
Yeol defended his actions, stating that martial law was necessary to protect the country from what he described as “pro-North Korean anti-state forces” and to “defend the constitutional order,” although he did not present specific evidence of threats.
Political crisis response
The military had initially announced that martial law would restrict parliament’s activities, ban political parties, and place media and publishers under military control. However, lawmakers in parliament defied the restrictions, and despite the military’s efforts, they successfully passed a motion to end martial law, sending a clear message that democratic processes would not be suspended.
The military’s dramatic intervention, followed by swift action from the parliament, led to an immediate reversal of the martial law declaration. Public protests continued, with demonstrators expressing outrage at the president’s actions. ROK’s largest union coalition, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, called for continued protests and strikes until Yeol resigned. Meanwhile, some major ROK corporations advised their employees to work from home, and financial markets saw volatility, with the stock market falling by about 1.3%.
The political situation triggered an emergency response from ROK’s government, with Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong holding emergency meetings to stabilize the economy. The government also promised to provide liquidity to the markets if necessary to prevent further financial instability.
What to expect
The impeachment bill requires the approval of over two-thirds of parliament to be passed. Afterward, a trial by the Constitutional Court would determine whether the motion would be confirmed. Should Yeol be removed, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would temporarily take over until a new election could be held.
This crisis marks the first time martial law has been declared in ROK since 1980 when it was used to suppress pro-democracy protests. The country’s political landscape has been increasingly polarized, with Yeols approval ratings hovering around 20%.
His political party also suffered a major defeat in April’s parliamentary elections, losing control of nearly two-thirds of the legislature to opposition parties.
While ROK’s political turmoil remains unresolved, the declaration of martial law and its subsequent reversal have drawn significant international attention.
Many citizens are deeply concerned about the future direction of their democracy. Public confidence has been shaken, and the events of the past 24 hours have sparked intense debates about the state of governance in ROK and the president’s ability to lead.