Efforts to impeach South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol over his brief declaration of martial law remain stalled after lawmakers from his ruling party walked out of parliament on Saturday, leaving the motion in limbo. The main opposition Democratic Party introduced the motion but requires votes from Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) to secure the two-thirds majority needed for its passage.
The heated parliamentary session marked a significant escalation of political tensions, which have been at their highest in decades following Yoon’s unprecedented decision to impose martial law earlier this week. The move, later rescinded, granted the military sweeping emergency powers and shocked both domestic and international observers.
During Saturday’s debate, opposition lawmakers accused PPP members of stalling the impeachment process by leaving the chamber after voting on a separate motion to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate allegations against the first lady. As the debate continued, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik urged PPP lawmakers to return before the midnight deadline to conclude the impeachment vote.
Earlier in the day, Yoon publicly apologized for declaring martial law, describing it as a desperate measure. However, he refused to resign, stating he would take responsibility for his actions. Standing before the South Korean flag, Yoon vowed not to reimpose martial law and left his political future in the hands of his party.
Yoon’s decision to impose martial law on Tuesday—South Korea’s first in 44 years—cited threats from “North Korean communist forces” and alleged anti-state activities by opposition lawmakers. His actions drew sharp criticism both domestically and abroad, with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin canceling a planned visit to South Korea in response.
The impeachment motion has further divided the PPP, with some members calling for Yoon’s resignation to avoid a repeat of the 2016 impeachment crisis that led to the ousting of then-President Park Geun-hye. Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the National Assembly on Friday and Saturday, holding candlelight protests to demand Yoon’s removal.
If the impeachment motion succeeds, the Constitutional Court will determine whether to uphold the decision. The court, currently short of the required number of judges, faces challenges in handling the case promptly. Investigations into Yoon’s martial law decree have also been launched, with prosecutors and police pursuing charges including insurrection and abuse of authority.
The ongoing crisis has left South Korea’s political landscape deeply fractured, threatening the stability of Asia’s fourth-largest economy and straining its alliance with the United States.
