SEOUL, South Korea — The National Assembly of South Korea has taken the unprecedented step of impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking a rapid decline for a leader who moved from obscurity to the nation’s highest office.

This dramatic political shift appears to stem from Yoon’s controversial decision to deploy military forces under martial law, amidst ambiguous allegations that one of Asia’s oldest democracies was under imminent threat.

As a result of the impeachment, Yoon’s presidential authority will be suspended until the Constitutional Court makes a ruling on whether to fully dismiss him or restore his powers. Additionally, he is facing investigations that seek to determine if his decree issued on December 3 constitutes rebellion, a severe charge in South Korea that can lead to a death sentence if convicted.

Yoon, a strong conservative and former prosecutor, ascended to the presidency in 2022, concluding a five-year term of liberal leadership that struggled with both the North Korean nuclear predicament and economic challenges.

However, his presidency has been overshadowed by ongoing clashes with a parliament dominated by the opposition, ongoing threats from North Korea, and numerous personal scandals involving both him and his spouse. Analysts have noted his impulsive nature, tendency to take criticism personally, and an overreliance on a close-knit circle of loyalists.

No single aspect can solely explain his drastic move to undermine democratic processes based on claims of “anti-state forces” allegedly acting under North Korean influence.

Yet, threads from Yoon’s past, particularly his contentious relationship with the liberal opposition and his aggressive stance towards North Korea, provide context for this pivotal moment in his presidency.

Yoon’s background is marked by a turbulent journey in the legal realm.

Born to two professors in Seoul and educated at the prestigious Seoul National University, where he focused on law, Yoon experienced a significant turning point in 1980. During a mock trial, he played the role of a judge and sentenced disgraced former dictator Chun Doo-hwan to life imprisonment, following a military coup. Yoon’s subsequent escape to the countryside to evade Chun’s martial law highlighted his early involvement in political and legal disputes.

After returning to Seoul, he embarked on a nearly thirty-year career as a state prosecutor, developing a reputation as a principled and uncompromising figure.

However, criticisms of his suitability for high office have arisen, with observers suggesting he lacks adequate preparation and is prone to making spontaneous decisions.

Choi Jin, director of the Institute of Presidential Leadership, remarked that “President Yoon isn’t well-prepared, and he does things off the cuff.” This, along with his tendency to be emotionally transparent and maintain a small, insular group around him, has raised concerns regarding his leadership style.

In 2013, while still a senior prosecutor, Yoon publicly expressed his intention to disregard pressures from high-ranking officials thwarting his investigations into allegations of misconduct involving the South Korean spy agency. His unyielding stance eventually led to his demotion, but with the collapse of the Park Geun-hye administration due to corruption scandals, he swiftly rose to leading roles within the prosecution system.

Yoon only dipped his toes into party politics a year before his presidential bid, breaking away from the liberal government of Moon Jae-in amidst disputes over investigations into Moon’s associates.

His presidential campaign unfolded in a highly contentious atmosphere, culminating in a narrow victory against liberal rival Lee Jae-myung—a contest marked by personal attacks and derogatory remarks from both sides.

Yoon’s presidency has been marred by political disarray, primarily stemming from his slim electoral victory and the inability of his party to secure parliamentary control.

In a declaration of a state of emergency, Yoon alleged that his actions were intended to root out “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces,” presumably referring to the opposition Democratic Party.

During a passionate address, Yoon remained defiant, stating that he will “fight to the end” against impeachment efforts and portraying the Democratic Party as a monstrous adversary attacking the government’s budget proposals.

Additionally, allegations of corruption have further diminished his public approval ratings. Recently, Yoon has denied any wrongdoing linked to an influence-peddling scandal involving himself and his wife, along with controversies surrounding purported gifts received by the first lady.

Analysts believe that his declaration of martial law may have been an attempt to distract from these scandals. Choi suggested that Yoon aimed for a significant shake-up in the political landscape but ultimately failed to deliver on that ambition.

As domestic political discord and scandals colored Yoon’s presidency, his foreign policy was defined by a harsh deadlock with North Korea.

Initially promising an “audacious plan” for economic support in exchange for denuclearization, Yoon’s relationships with the North soured as tensions escalated, resulting in a series of provocative weapons tests by the North Koreans.

As relations deteriorated, North Korea’s insults escalated, referring to Yoon in derogatory terms and even sending balloons filled with trash across the border, some landing in the presidential compound in Seoul.

In portraying North Korea as a destabilizing force, Yoon’s administration echoes a darker chapter in South Korean history when leaders invoked the North’s threat to justify suppressing dissent and political opposition.