South Korean officials are working to stabilize the nation following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, a decision that has intensified political uncertainty. In a televised address on Sunday, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, extended an unexpected offer of cooperation to the government. This follows the opposition-majority National Assembly’s vote to impeach Yoon over his controversial six-hour imposition of martial law earlier this month.
Lee has urged the Constitutional Court to expedite its decision on the impeachment, citing the need to alleviate the “national confusion and suffering” caused by the political turmoil. He also proposed forming a special council to promote collaboration between the government and parliament, emphasizing that his party would not pursue further impeachment actions against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is currently acting as president.
Yoon’s executive powers have been suspended while the court deliberates. If the impeachment is upheld, South Korea must hold a national election within 60 days to select a new president. Observers predict the court might act swiftly, referencing the timelines for past presidential impeachment cases—63 days for Roh Moo-hyun in 2004 and 91 days for Park Geun-hye in 2016.
Lee called for bipartisan efforts to stabilize state affairs and rebuild international confidence, though it remains unclear how Yoon’s People Power Party will respond. Some ruling party figures, such as former lawmaker Kim Woong, have dismissed Lee’s overtures as attempts to consolidate power. The opposition has leveraged its parliamentary dominance to impeach other officials connected to Yoon’s martial law decree, including the justice minister and the national police chief.
Acting President Han Duck-soo has stayed largely silent but has taken measures to address the fallout. He has directed security forces to guard against North Korean provocations and reassured foreign governments of South Korea’s policy stability. Han also discussed the situation with U.S. President Joe Biden, who praised South Korea’s democratic resilience and reaffirmed U.S. support.
The political crisis stems from Yoon’s controversial decision on December 3 to impose martial law—an unprecedented move in South Korea’s recent history. While Yoon justified it as a warning against parliamentary overreach, critics accused him of attempting to undermine democracy, arguing martial law can only be enacted under dire circumstances like wartime. The parliament swiftly annulled the decree, and Yoon’s subsequent deployment of troops to block the vote failed to prevent the Assembly’s action. Though the incident caused significant political, economic, and diplomatic disruptions, no violence occurred during the parliamentary session.
Investigations into Yoon’s actions, including potential charges of rebellion, are ongoing. Several senior officials, including Yoon’s defense minister and police chief, have been detained. While Yoon enjoys immunity from most criminal charges as president, this protection does not extend to accusations of rebellion or treason. His travel has been restricted, though it is unclear if he will face arrest due to logistical challenges related to his security detail.
Lee has called for an expedited investigation by a special prosecutor, underscoring the need for all parties implicated in the alleged rebellion to cooperate fully with authorities. The National Assembly recently approved legislation to initiate such an inquiry, adding another layer of scrutiny to Yoon’s embattled presidency.
