S.Korea President Apologizes for Martial Law Declaration

Yang Soonsil has expressed that she has completely lost trust in President Yoon Suk Yeol

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South Korean lawmakers narrowly voted against impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol over his brief attempt to declare martial law. The impeachment motion failed by just three votes, not reaching the required 200 votes for passage. Several members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) chose to abstain from voting.

Yoon's declaration of military rule on Tuesday prompted widespread outrage, as many saw it as an attempt to resolve a political stalemate. The declaration, which raised fears of authoritarianism, was quickly reversed by parliament and rescinded by Yoon’s administration following large-scale protests.

For the impeachment to pass, it needed a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, meaning support from at least eight PPP members was necessary. However, most PPP lawmakers left the chamber before the vote. Among those who stayed, such as Cho Kyung-tae, the decision to reject the impeachment motion was influenced by Yoon’s public apology and willingness to step down. Cho also voiced concerns that impeaching Yoon could lead to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), assuming the presidency. He further argued that Yoon's “irrational” martial law declaration had overshadowed the DPK's prior mistakes.

Despite the setback, Lee vowed to continue efforts to remove Yoon from office, calling him a significant threat to South Korea's stability. Lee promised that his party would restore order by the end of the year.

Martial law had not been declared in South Korea since the country adopted a parliamentary democracy in 1987. Yoon defended his decision, claiming it was necessary to deal with “anti-state forces” within parliament and citing North Korea as a threat. Critics, however, viewed it as an extreme response to a political deadlock that followed the DPK's landslide victory in April, which left Yoon’s government unable to block legislation. Public dissatisfaction also grew amid a scandal involving the First Lady.

The martial law announcement caused chaos in the National Assembly, with clashes between protesters and military personnel as lawmakers voted to reject the order. By Wednesday morning, Yoon's cabinet had rescinded the decree.

Protests have continued across the country, with some supporters of Yoon, but the majority have expressed anger. The commander in charge of the military response later revealed that he had learned of the decree through the media and refused to follow orders to arrest lawmakers. The National Intelligence Service also confirmed that Yoon had ordered the arrest and interrogation of political opponents, including some within his own party.

Yoon's apology on Saturday appeared to be an effort to regain public support. He explained that the martial law decision had been made out of “desperation” and vowed not to repeat such actions. Although he did not offer to resign, he stated that it would be up to his party to determine how to stabilize the country.

If impeachment moves forward, it would not be without precedent. In 2016, President Park Geun-hye was impeached over a corruption scandal. If the National Assembly passes the impeachment, the Constitutional Court would hold a trial, and a two-thirds majority of justices would be required for Yoon's permanent removal from office.