On Tuesday Dec. 3rd, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea made one of the most unexpected announcements in South Korean political history. The sudden declaration of martial law has led to protests outside the parliament, and a failed attempt in the Korean parliament to impeach the president. 

Yoon stated in his declaration that the order was to “eradicate the pro-North (Korean) anti-state forces that are depriving our people of their freedom and happiness.” People speculate that Yoon’s low approval ratings are a reason for his unexpected declaration. 

Three hours later, at 1 a.m. KST, 190 national assembly members of opposing parties gathered in the national assembly to vote unanimously against the declaration made by the president, reaching the required half-majority votes to overturn the declaration. After just over three more hours, at 4:30 a.m. KST, President Yoon and his cabinet officially lifted martial law. 

Despite the majority public support for Yoon’s impeachment, the vote has failed in parliament. Two-thirds of the 300-seat assembly are required to vote for the impeachment for it to pass. However, as the opposing parties hold only 190 seats, with the ruling party members walking out of the vote, the motion is unable to pass. For it to pass, the parliament would need members of the president’s own party to support the motion. 

The opposing Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) continues to support the movement to impeach the president.  

Leader of the party Lee Jae-myung stated that, “The president’s very existence is the biggest risk to South Korea right now.” 

The leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) stated that the president’s early resignation is unavoidable. 

Although this declaration may seem sudden, DPK politicians anticipated this declaration several months ago, but the claims were shot down due to a lack of evidence. Kim Min-Seok raised suspicions in an Aug. 21 meeting stating, “I have well-founded reasons to believe that the conservative Yoon administration is drawing up a contingency plan to declare martial law.” Suspicion was based off several key military positions related to national defense being held by people from Yoon’s high school. 

Yoon has since apologized for the declaration. Though, political opponents have continued to call for his impeachment.