Attempted martial law leads to South Korean political crisis
After a failed attempt to enforce martial law, South Korea’s President entered legal limbo as he battled impeachment proceedings.

On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul, South Korea in an unannounced live television broadcast, sending shockwaves throughout the nation. On January 15, 2025, he became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested after a weeks-long standoff with authorities investigating him.

Effects and fallout of the martial law declaration

In his declaration, Yoon decried the National Assembly as obstructive, calling their opposition to his agenda “budgetary tyranny” supporting a “legislative dictatorship.” He further called the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) an agent of “pro-North [Korean] state forces.” He conveyed that the purpose of martial law was to “eradicate the root causes of national ruin and the anti-state forces.”

Supporting Yoon’s statement, the formal martial law decree placed various restrictions on political expression, media circulation, and potential strike action. Further testimony revealed that the decree allowed Yoon to order arrests of all potential political opposition figures under the guise of an “anti-communist investigation authority.”

Copious leading figures in South Korean politics condemned the declaration. DPK leader Lee Jae-myung live-streamed his journey into South Korea’s National Assembly to oppose the decree, calling Yoon’s actions “illegal, unconstitutional, and anti-citizen” and urging all South Koreans to protect democracy. The People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon echoed Lee’s words, emphasizing the need to “stop [martial law] along with the people.” Both leaders had been targets for arrest under martial law.

Despite the placement of various obstructions, South Korean legislators managed to reach the voting chamber of the National Assembly. By 1 a.m. local time the following day, the National Assembly approved the lifting of martial law unanimously. Yoon withdrew the martial law declaration after his cabinet met about four hours later.

Struggle for impeachment

Immediately after the lifting of martial law, calls began mounting for Yoon’s impeachment, especially as DPK politician Kim Min-seok said on December 5 that he believed Yoon would try to resume martial law should the President’s authority remain intact. Kim had previously warned of Yoon declaring martial law back in August.

The PPP initially opposed extending impeachment to Yoon. In a statement on December 5, the PPP said it preferred Yoon resign from his party position instead, in preparation for a future resignation date. As such, when the National Assembly held its first impeachment vote on December 7, all PPP members abstained, thus failing to reach the 200-member quorum needed for presidential impeachments.

On December 12, Yoon made his first public speech since the lifting of martial law, defending his declaration by continuing to accuse the DPK of being a vehicle of North Korean interests. He also contradicted prior claims of an agreed-upon resignation as he continued to defend declaring martial law.

Afterwards, Han Dong-hoon indicated that the PPP may change its position due to Yoon’s defiance. However, this was contradicted by the PPP’s floor leader, Kweon Seong-dong, who maintained a position against Yoon’s impeachment amidst a possible ethics committee hearing of party members.

On December 14, the opposition launched a second impeachment motion against Yoon. Han Dong-hoon decided to let PPP members vote their conscience to reconcile the two factions. The second impeachment motion succeeded with 204 voting for impeachment. With Yoon impeached, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo became the acting President.

Further impeachment amidst judicial appointment spat

As the impeachment trial started, tensions immediately escalated regarding the judicial appointment of the Constitutional Court of Korea. A president can only be impeached if six or more judges within the nine-member court find them guilty.

When the second impeachment motion was approved, the court only had six judges. However, with the support of Acting President Han Duck-soo, the PPP blocked new appointments to fill these vacancies.

In response, on December 27, the DPK drafted an impeachment motion against Han Duck-soo for obstruction by blocking these judicial appointments. The motion passed with all 192 opposition members voting in favour, while the PPP boycotted the vote.

Han Duck-soo’s removal meant that Choi Sang-mook, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, became the new Acting President. The DPK has threatened Choi with impeachment if he obstructs Yoon’s impeachment trial. Choi has responded by filling two of the three vacancies within the Constitutional Court.

Standoff and arrest

As the trial developed, Yoon refused to cooperate with any impeachment inquiries, ignoring legal summons to appear at the trial. In response, on December 30, the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) issued an arrest warrant for Yoon, even as he and his presidential guards continued to be uncooperative.

On January 3, 2025, South Korean authorities first attempted to breach the presidential compound to arrest Yoon. However, this attempt was blocked due to continued resistance by the Presidential Security Service.

On January 11, following police questioning about his actions preventing the warrant from being carried out, the Presidential Security Service head, Park Jong-jun, resigned. Following this, on January 15, investigators finally breached Yoon’s residence, taking him into custody.

As of January 16, the impeachment trial is ongoing, with Yoon remaining in CIO custody. South Korean politics remain heavily polarized over the affair.