South Korea is witnessing a political maelstrom as President Yoon Suk Yeol faces his second impeachment vote this weekend. Accusations of treason and his controversial attempt to impose martial law last week have plunged the nation into political uncertainty, sparking nightly protests and fracturing his ruling party, the People Power Party (PPP).
Banned from leaving the country and under investigation for treason—a charge that carries the death penalty—Yoon has taken a defiant stance. After briefly signaling a willingness to resign earlier in the week, he declared on Thursday:
“I will fight until the end.”
Yoon’s short-lived martial law declaration on Tuesday, ostensibly to “protect democracy,” was swiftly overturned by parliament. His speech defending the move was riddled with conspiracy theories, including an unsubstantiated claim that North Korea interfered in previous elections.
As police attempted to raid the president’s offices for evidence, the public grew increasingly incensed. Nightly protests in Seoul’s streets have evolved from calls to “impeach Yoon” to demands to dissolve the ruling party.
“There is no legal basis for this arrangement,” warned Lim Ji-bong, a law professor at Sogang University. “We are in a dangerous and chaotic situation.”
The People Power Party (PPP), once a bastion of support for Yoon, is now deeply divided. Initially reluctant to act, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon broke ranks on Thursday, urging MPs to vote for impeachment:
“The president must be suspended from office immediately.”
For impeachment to proceed, two-thirds of parliament must vote in favor, requiring at least eight ruling party MPs to side with the opposition. A handful, including Kim Sang-wook, have already declared their support for impeachment.
However, dissent within the party has come at a cost. Kim revealed he has received death threats for switching sides, describing South Korea’s political landscape as “intensely tribal.”
A Nation in Uncertainty
Yoon’s refusal to resign has left South Korea grappling with a power vacuum, as even military commanders have vowed to defy his orders if martial law is reimposed. The situation is particularly precarious given the persistent threat from North Korea and the need for political stability in the region.
“This is an aberration, not a systemic failure of democracy,” said Professor Yun Jeong-in of Korea University’s Legal Research Institute. “People are not panicking; they are fighting back. They see democracy as something that is rightfully theirs.”
Impact on South Korea’s Global Standing
The crisis has dented South Korea’s international reputation as a stable democracy. Yoon’s vision of South Korea as a “global pivotal state” and his aspirations to join the G7 now seem increasingly out of reach.
A Western diplomat underscored the urgency of resolving the turmoil:
“We need South Korea to be a stable partner. Impeachment would be a step in the right direction.”
If Yoon is impeached on Saturday, his case will proceed to court, where he has vowed to fight the decision. This prolonged battle promises to deepen the fractures within the PPP and leave lasting repercussions on South Korea’s political landscape.
While Yoon’s political future hangs by a thread, the question remains whether his removal can restore stability to a nation in turmoil.
