South Korea's parliament votes to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol
South Korea's parliament impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for his attempt to impose martial law, the first time such a measure had been imposed...
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's parliament impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, holding him accountable for his attempt to impose martial law. The martial law declaration, the first such measure in more than four decades, triggered political chaos in an established democracy and major U.S. ally, resulting in 11 uncertain and stressful days for ordinary South Koreans.
The vote passed 204 to 85 in the 300-member National Assembly. Around a dozen ruling party lawmakers joined the opposition in voting to impeach Yoon.
An earlier impeachment bill failed to pass last Saturday, when ruling People Power Party lawmakers boycotted the vote.
Huge crowds of protesters massed outside the National Assembly and around the country erupted in celebration, many of them waving light sticks often seen at K-pop concerts.
Yoon's presidential duties were suspended, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will take over as acting president.
South Korea's Constitutional Court now has 180 days to rule in favor of or against Yoon's impeachment. If they uphold it, an election for a new president must be held in 60 days.
Constitutional Court Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae said that justices "will conduct a speedy and fair trial."
"Although I am pausing for now, my journey for the future with the people over the past two and a half years shouldn't stop," Yoon Suk Yeol said in a remarks recorded at his residence.
"I will carry with me all the criticisms, encouragement and support I have received," he added, "and I will do my best for the nation until the end."
Opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung hailed the impeachment as proof "that the people are owners of this country," and a victory in the "first round" of a protracted struggle.
Yoon defiantly vowed on Thursday to "fight to the end," claiming his declaration of martial law was a legitimate tool of governance. He insisted that it was necessary to end the paralysis of government by opposition lawmakers in league with North Korea.
But his explanation of events crumbled, and he became isolated as his supporters either abandoned him, or were arrested or suspended from their duties.
So many military commanders were suspended from their duties because of their roles in the martial law decree that concern spread that the South was militarily unprepared to deal with a potential North Korean aggression, although the military dismissed such ideas.
Yoon became South Korea's first president to be banned from leaving the country, as police and investigators investigated him on suspicion of insurrection.
While Yoon's popularity withered at home, he remained a popular figure with the Biden administration, which Yoon helped to achieve some of its key Asia policy aims, most notably tightening trilateral cooperation among the U.S., South Korea and Japan.
In its first impeachment motion, opposition parties charged that "under the guise of so-called 'value diplomacy,' the [Yoon] administration ignored geopolitical balance" by alienating North Korea, China and Russia and pursuing an "unusual pro-Japan stance."
This, it argued, increased South Korea's isolation and harmed its national security.
Local media report that U.S. officials asked opposition politicians, after the first impeachment motion, about such language questioning what the Biden administration considered some of its signature achievements in the region. The language in question was removed from the second impeachment bill.
Audio transcript
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
South Korea's president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been impeached for trying to put the country under martial law just 11 days ago. The political crisis threatened to pull the established democracy back into its military past of several decades ago. And the impeachment is a weighty implication for U.S. foreign policy. South Korea, of course, is an important U.S. ally. NPR's Anthony Kuhn joins us now from Seoul. Anthony, thanks for being with us.
ANTHONY KUHN, BYLINE: My pleasure, Scott.
SIMON: Parliament has tried to impeach Yoon just a week ago. How did the vote go this time? Why was it different?
KUHN: Well, this time, all lawmakers in South Korea's parliament, called the National Assembly, voted. The vote ended up 204 to 85. Here's what it sounded like when the vote was announced in the main chamber.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
WOO WON-SHIK: (Speaking Korean).
KUHN: Of course, there's a lot of celebrating in the streets as well. Now, Yoon's original rationale for martial law was that opposition politicians who were sympathetic or in league with North Korea were paralyzing the government. But he never really stood that charge up. It never really resonated beyond his base of conservative supporters. And it became clear that there was no war or breakdown of public order or anything that legally justified martial law. And as his ministers and generals were arrested or questioned, it became clear that Yoon and not his subordinates were the one - who's the one who was orchestrating martial law.
SIMON: Anthony, how does South Korea choose a new president now?
KUHN: Well, Yoon's official duties have already been suspended, and South Korea's prime minister, Han Duck-soo, will stand in as acting president. Next, South Korea's Constitutional Court will have 180 days to reject or uphold the impeachment. If they uphold it, Yoon will be officially removed from office, and a new election for president will have to be held within 60 days.
SIMON: Has South Korea's democracy passed a stress test? Is there lasting damage?
KUHN: It seems that way. One thing that happened was that Yoon tried to hand power over to his ruling party, said, I'm not going to manage things. They will. But experts said that's an unconstitutional arrangement. So for a while, people were not really sure who was leading South Korea. And so many top generals were suspended from their duties. There was also concern about military vulnerability. The country technically remains at war with North Korea.
I think South Korea's public image has taken somewhat of a beating. This is a country that, with the U.S., co-hosted a summit for democracy, and yet here was its leader trying to use the military to roll back people's civil rights. And, you know, a lot of people are celebrating right now, people who wanted Yoon impeached. But I think the sense you get from living here is that this has been a very stressful, even traumatic,11 days for South Koreans.
SIMON: And how does it affect the U.S.-South Korean relationship and shared policy goals?
KUHN: Well, publicly, at least, the U.S. said it was relieved that Yoon's declaration of martial law was lifted. But I think privately, Biden administration officials have got to be absolutely exasperated that Yoon shot himself in the foot because Yoon was instrumental in forging a three-way coalition of the U.S., Japan and South Korea to help deter North Korea, support Ukraine and force export controls on China, all these policy goals. Then again, think about this - Yoon is likely to be replaced by a liberal North Korea-friendly administration. And if the Trump administration and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wants to - want to do the diplomatic dance again, South Korea could help broker some diplomacy.
SIMON: NPR's Anthony Kuhn. Thanks so much for being with us.
KUHN: Thank you, Scott.
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