12/17/2024

South Korea's President Impeached after Martial Law Ploy

South Korea now enters a prolonged period of uncertainty

The South Korean National Assembly voted Saturday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, forcing him to immediately hand power over to the prime minister following his short-lived attempt this month to impose martial law.

The hundreds of thousands of South Koreans waiting outside the National Assembly, many singing along to K-pop-style songs with ad-libbed lyrics calling for Yoon’s departure, erupted into cheering and crying when the verdict was announced.

But South Korea now enters a prolonged period of uncertainty: The Constitutional Court must decide whether to uphold the impeachment charges, a process that could take up to six months. If the court decides the legislature’s decision is constitutional, Yoon will be removed from office and a new presidential election will be held within 60 days.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.