South Korean President Impeached, Leaving Political Vacuum #

Yoon Suk Yeol Suspended from Office Amid Constitutional Crisis #

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment and suspension from office has left South Korea without a strong elected leader to tackle challenges like a belligerent North Korea and deepening political polarization at home.

The National Assembly’s vote to impeach Mr. Yoon delivered a crushing vote of no confidence in a leader who had been unpopular throughout his term. Outside the legislature, people celebrated Yoon’s peaceful removal from office, seeing it as proof of the country’s democratic resilience.

The impeachment followed Yoon’s botched attempt to place the country under military rule for the first time in 45 years. This action created political turmoil and uncertainty that remains unresolved.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has stepped in as the interim leader, but he lacks an electoral mandate. A new government cannot be formed until the Constitutional Court decides whether to reinstate or formally oust Mr. Yoon, a process that could take up to six months.

If Yoon is formally removed, South Korea will need another two months to elect a new president. Yoon has vowed to “never give up” the fight to return to office but also faces potential arrest on charges including insurrection.

The impeachment bill accused Yoon of perpetrating an insurrection when he declared martial law, sending troops into the National Assembly to block it from voting down his decree and to detain political opponents.

This political turmoil complicates South Korea’s ability to navigate uncertainties surrounding the incoming U.S. administration, particularly regarding the alliance and economic relations between the two countries.

The challenge for interim leader Han will be to keep the government functioning through this crisis. As a career bureaucrat, Han lacks political clout but is viewed as an even-keeled caretaker.

Han has called the National Security Council to check on military preparedness and emphasized the importance of the U.S.-South Korea alliance in a call with President Biden.

The main opposition Democratic Party has proposed establishing a consultative body to help stabilize the country and urged the Constitutional Court to reach its conclusion quickly.

Yoon’s impeachment has deepened political polarization, with die-hard supporters rallying behind him. His tenure was marked by clashes with the opposition, allegations of corruption, and accusations of using state prosecutors to silence critics.

Most South Koreans prefer the temporary political uncertainty to keeping an unpopular president in office. Yoon’s misjudged martial law declaration has also damaged his image abroad, raising questions about the conservative elite’s commitment to democratic norms and the military’s integrity.