South Korean President Faces Impeachment Following Martial Law Controversy

December 04, 2024

Six South Korean opposition parties have submitted a bill calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The bill was tabled in the National Assembly, the country’s legislature, at 2:40 p.m. local time, Yonhap stated.

The six parties, including the main opposition Democratic Party, jointly proposed the impeachment motion against Yoon in response to widespread backlash across the political spectrum over his short-lived martial law decree.

The bill is expected to be reported to the National Assembly’s plenary session on Thursday, with voting scheduled for Friday or Saturday, according to Yonhap.

Under the South Korean constitution, impeachment must first be proposed by a majority of parliament and then approved by two-thirds of all lawmakers.

If passed, the proposal would be submitted to the Constitutional Court—one of South Korea’s highest judicial bodies, alongside the Supreme Court. At least six justices must agree to uphold the impeachment for it to proceed, as per the constitution.

During the process, the president would be suspended from exercising power until the court delivers its verdict, the constitution states.