South Korea is buzzing with political drama as President Yoon Suk Yeol faces growing pressure to step down. The controversy stems from his shocking decision earlier this month to declare martial law, sparking anger across the nation and raising serious questions about his leadership.
The latest twist came on Thursday when the ruling People Power Party (PPP), which had initially resisted efforts to impeach Yoon, decided to support the move. Party leader Han Dong-hoon admitted they’d tried to convince Yoon to resign voluntarily, but their efforts failed. “Impeachment is now the only way to protect democracy and the republic,” Han said, signaling a major shift in the party’s stance.
The main opposition, the Democratic Party, is already preparing a fresh impeachment motion, with a vote expected as soon as Saturday. Yoon narrowly survived a previous impeachment attempt last weekend when the PPP boycotted the vote. But now, with his own party allowing its lawmakers to vote freely, the chances of impeachment succeeding have skyrocketed.
This all began on December 3, when Yoon declared a military emergency, accusing the opposition of siding with North Korea and blocking progress in parliament. The announcement, made late at night, shocked the country, which still bears painful memories of martial law from its military dictatorship days. Public backlash was immediate, with protests erupting and lawmakers blocking the move within hours.
Dramatic scenes from that night included security forces breaking into the National Assembly and protesters clashing with riot police. The decision has only added to Yoon’s troubles, with opposition figures, protesters, and even some of his own allies calling for his resignation.
Police have launched an investigation into Yoon and other officials on accusations of treason, and a special counsel has been approved to look into whether Yoon abused his power. Adding to his woes, South Korean police recently raided the presidential office, and the former defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, who reportedly suggested the martial law, was arrested. Kim even attempted to take his own life in custody earlier this week, highlighting the intense pressure surrounding the scandal.
On Thursday, lawmakers took another bold step by voting to impeach Justice Minister Park Sung-jae and National Police Agency Chief Cho Ji-ho, both of whom were tied to the controversial emergency declaration.
Yoon, however, is standing his ground. In a fiery speech on Thursday, he defended his actions, claiming the martial law decision was an attempt to break political deadlock. He accused the opposition of working against the country’s interests and being too lenient on North Korea. “I declared martial law to maintain order, not to paralyze the National Assembly,” he insisted.
Yoon’s two years in office have been rocky, with scandals, plummeting approval ratings, and gridlock in parliament preventing him from advancing his policies. But the martial law controversy might be the biggest challenge yet. Facing mounting calls to step down, Yoon vowed to fight on, saying, “I will fight until the last moment with the people.”
As South Korea watches this political storm unfold, the country’s hard-won democracy stands at a critical crossroads. The coming days will determine whether Yoon can hold onto power—or if the impeachment vote will mark the end of his presidency.
