South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol faces impeachment vote over martial law as minister offers to resign: Live
Protesters gather at Gwanghwamun Square and outside national assembly with placards reading ‘Restore Democracy’
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Your support makes all the difference.Protests continued to sweep Seoul as South Koreans called for president Yoon Suk Yeol’s resignation following his declaration and subsequent lifting of martial law in the country.
There were deep divisions in Yoon’s ruling People Power Party as well, as its leader called for Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun to be fired and the entire cabinet to resign, with the defence ministry saying Kim has now offered to resign.
Protesters gathered at Gwanghwamun Square and outside the national assembly on Wednesday, holding placards with messages such as “Restore Democracy” and “Investigate his act of rebellion immediately”.
South Korean opposition parties filed a motion to impeach the president. “We’ve submitted an impeachment motion prepared urgently,” representatives from six opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, said. They indicated the vote could happen as soon as Friday.
New CCTV footage revealed chaotic scenes in South Korea’s parliament after the martial law declaration. Staffers used sofas and fire extinguishers to block soldiers armed with assault rifles and night-vision goggles from entering the national assembly, the footage showed.
Helicopters deployed armed troops to parliament, while others scaled fences and smashed windows after midnight, assembly secretary general Kim Min-ki said.
The president’s surprising move harkened back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and it was immediately denounced by the opposition and the leader of Mr Yoon’s own party.
Why did South Korea declare martial law and what is next for Yoon Suk Yeol?
Who is Yoon Suk Yeol, man who declared martial law in South Korea?
In pictures: South Korea’s history of military coups and martial law as president Yoon faces impeachment calls
Asian stocks drop amid South Korea’s political unrest as won hits two-year low
Is it safe to travel to South Korea? Foreign Office update after martial law blocked
‘We had to stop this’: lawmaker grabbed at soldier’s gun during protest
Among the dramatic scenes outside South Korea’s parliament overnight was footage of journalist-turned-lawmaker Ahn Gwi-ryeong grabbing the nozzle of a soldier’s gun, in a brief tussle during the decree.
“I didn’t think… I just knew we had to stop this,” she told the BBC Korean Service after the event.
“When I saw the armed soldiers… I felt like I was witnessing the regression of history.”
Protestors disperse after candle-lit vigil
Protestors have largely dispersed after a march that began in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, earlier tonight. Below are some images from the event, sparked by the president’s short-lived martial law decree.
US unaware of Mr Yoon’s intention to declare martial law, Blinken says
The United States was not aware of South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol’s intention to declare martial law, US secretary state Antony Blinken said on Wedesday in Brussels, adding that he was anticipating speaking with his South Korean counterpart in the coming days.
Speaking in an interview with Reuters news wire on the sidelines of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, the top US diplomat said it was vital that the process from now on play out peacefully and according to the rule of law.
“South Korean democracy is one of the most powerful stories anywhere in the world. It’s very important that any disputes, differences, political differences, be resolved peacefully and pursuant to the rule of law. That’s what we’re seeing now. That’s what’s so important to sustain,” Mr Blinken said.
Washington had not been informed about the South Korean decision beforehand, he said. “That’s correct, we were not aware,” Blinken said
Blinken says South Korea a democratic success story
Speaking in Brussels a short time ago, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said the growth of democracy in South Korea had been an “extraordinary success story”.
His statement came in response to a press conference question in which he was asked whether the Asian nation should have hosted an international democratic summit earlier this year in Seoul.
“Of course, with Korea wanting to take on the summit for democracy, we were delighted at that, and we had a very successful summit,” Blinken said.
“Korea is one of the most powerful stories in the world about the emergence of democracy and democratic resilience, and we’ll continue to look to Korea to set that example,” he said.
How the world responded
The world sat glued to the events in Seoul overnight as president Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration was rolled back soon after it began, paving the way for his impeachment by parliament.
Here are some of the reactions of western leaders to the political turmoil:
- US secretary of state Antony Blinken welcomed the swift reversal of martial law. “We continue to expect political disagreements to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law,” Antony Blinken said in a statement.
- British nationals in South Korea have been advised to avoid political demonstrations. Catherine West, the British minister for the Indo-Pacific, said the UK was “deeply concerned by the events in South Korea on the 3rd of December.”
- China’s foreign ministry has said it hoped South Korea would take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions following the country’s brief imposition of martial law.
- Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson postponed his planned visit to South Korea, citing the recent political developments.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the surprise martial law declaration in ally South Korea that was reversed only hours later was worrying.
Test for South Korea’s democracy
Mr Yoon’s actions have drawn comparisons to South Korea’s authoritarian era before the 1980s. The sight of military helicopters and armed soldiers near the parliament evoked memories of the military regimes.
Analysts warn that such actions undermine the country’s hard-won democratic principles.
Natalia Slavney, a research analyst at the Stimson Center’s 38 North programme, described the episode as a “serious backslide of democracy” and part of a “worrying trend of abuse” under Mr Yoon’s leadership.
The crisis has drawn criticism from experts like Duyeon Kim of the Center for a New American Security, who argued that the turmoil has undermined President Yoon Suk Yeol’s international standing. “The fate of Yoon’s foreign policies remains uncertain and even bleak,” she remarked.
In spite of the political crisis, daily life in Seoul remained largely undisturbed. Tourists continued their activities, with one visitor, Stephen Rowan from Brisbane, remarking: “I would have been concerned if martial law had stayed enforced, but it seems things are settling down now.”
German chancellor says martial law declaration ‘worrying'
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said the surprise martial law declaration in ally South Korea that was reversed only hours later was worrying.
“It is very worrying that we are hearing that a country with which we are allies and friends, such as South Korea, has now declared martial law,” he told parliament. “My wish is that this will be withdrawn very quickly.”
President Yoon Suk Yeol in fact reversed his martial law declaration, which triggered the biggest political crisis in decades in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, just hours after he made it late on Tuesday.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte earlier reaffirmed that the alliance’s relationship with South Korea was “iron-clad” despite the upheaval, adding the announcement of the end of martial law in the country shows a commitment to the rule of law.
How will an impeachment motion take place?
South Korea’s opposition lawmakers on Wednesday filed a formal motion for impeachment of president Yoon Suk Yeol following a brief and controversial declaration of martial law.
The motion, introduced by the opposition Democratic Party, could reach a vote as soon as Friday, according to lawmaker Kim Yong-min.
To succeed, it would require a two-thirds majority in parliament and the approval of at least six justices from the Constitutional Court.
Should impeachment proceedings succeed, Mr Yoon would be suspended from office while the Constitutional Court scrutinises and ratifies the motion, a process that could take up to six months.
In the interim, prime minister Han Duck-soo would assume presidential duties.
The path to impeachment is fraught with challenges, however. The Constitutional Court needs six of its nine judges to uphold an impeachment motion. Three seats on the bench are currently vacant, potentially complicating any ruling on the matter.
Overnight drama adds to financial uncertainties
Global stocks are mixed after overnight political drama in South Korea added to regional uncertainties.
Seoul’s Kospi fell 1.4 per cent and the won regained its initial sharp losses against the U.S. dollar.
The martial law declaration by presidentYoon Suk Yeol initially caused the won to plummet to a two-year low against the US dollar, with losses of up to 2 per cent, the sharpest one-day drop since the market’s seismic reaction to Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory.
The won recovered some of those losses on Wednesday. The dollar was trading at 1,414.43 won, down from Tuesday’s peak at 1,443.40.
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