Political Chaos in South Korea: President Yoon Faces Impeachment

seoul - Following an unexpected military coup attempt by President Yoon Suk-yeol, South Korea is in a state of political turmoil as opposition parties initiate impeachment proceedings.

South Korea experienced a nearly six-hour military emergency. The country woke up to a night of chaos surrounding President Yoon Suk-yeol. The opposition has started the impeachment process. President Yoon is now known as the South Korean president who attempted an unexpected coup. South Korea is in disbelief and anger after a night full of chaotic events. The state of emergency has been lifted after almost six hours. The reasons behind the president's decision to declare a military emergency, also known as a state of siege, remain unclear.

The parliament in Seoul suspects that Yoon tried to sideline the political opposition in this way. The president also aimed to suspend press freedom and all forms of protest. Yoon's resignation is the conclusion drawn by six South Korean opposition parties, who initiated impeachment proceedings against the president on Wednesday. The vote is likely to take place on Friday or Saturday.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), also plans to file a treason charge against Yoon and his ministers of Defense and Interior. DPK leader Lee Jae-myung calls the military emergency an 'illegal' action and stated that Yoon 'is no longer the president of South Korea.' 'It became clear to the whole nation that President Yoon can no longer govern the country in a normal way. He must resign,' says parliament member Park Chan-dae in a statement.

But how can a South Korean president be impeached? If there is 'violation of the law in the performance of official duties,' the parliament can file an impeachment motion against the president or other high-ranking officials. This is stated in the South Korean constitution. This motion can be passed with a two-thirds majority of the parliament. If so, the president is suspended and put in an acting position until the Constitutional Court makes a ruling. The Constitutional Court has six months to reject the motion or confirm impeachment. Six out of the nine judges are involved in this decision. If impeachment is decided, new presidential elections must be held within sixty days.

South Korea already has experience with this. Think back to 2017 when presidential elections were held after the Constitutional Court ruled on the impeachment of Park Geun-hye. Park was South Korea's first female president and the first democratically elected leader to be impeached. She was accused of conspiracy and abuse of presidential authority.

The current president Yoon said he declared the military emergency to protect the country from the threats of 'the communist North Korean armed forces' and 'anti-state forces.' After the announcement, which was broadcast live on television last night, about 280 troops stormed the parliament building, according to the parliament's secretary-general. Thousands of protesters had gathered next to the building and resisted the state of emergency. A few hours later, the state of siege was lifted. This was made possible after a majority, 190 out of the 300 present parliament members, unanimously voted to lift the emergency.