South Korea in turmoil as president Yoon impeached
The South Korean parliament has decided to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol following his controversial decisions regarding martial law. These recent decisions shook the nation, leading to a political crisis.
The South Korean parliament decided to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after he imposed and then quickly lifted martial law on December 3. As a result of the vote, Yoon Suk Yeol is suspended from his duties until the Constitutional Court reaches a decision, which is expected within 180 days.
During the suspension period, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will take over the president's duties. In the vote, 204 out of 300 members of the National Assembly supported the impeachment, 85 were against, and three abstained. Eight votes were deemed invalid.
On the day of the vote, hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered on the streets of Seoul and in front of the National Assembly building, representing both supporters and opponents of President Yoon's impeachment.
Crisis in South Korea
Saturday's vote was the second attempt by six opposition parties to remove the president. In the first vote, held on December 7, Yoon Suk Yeol avoided impeachment due to a lack of quorum, resulting from a boycott by the ruling People Power Party.
President Yoon Suk Yeol has been banned from leaving the country due to an ongoing investigation into the martial law announcement. The charges against the president include treason, and the political atmosphere remains tense.
