Martial law lifted in South Korea: What happens next?

So, what’s next for South Korea?

Visuals from Seoul Wednesday morning showed Opposition leaders and protesters holding a rally at the National Assembly, holding placards demanding President Yoon step down. The country’s largest umbrella labour group, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), has decided to go on an indefinite strike till Yoon quits.

Calls for impeachment: The main Opposition party in South Korea, the Democratic Party, has said it will start the impeachment process if the President does not resign. The Democratic Party has contended that Yoon failed to meet the criteria for declaring martial law, and called it a “clear violation of the Constitution”.

“This is a serious act of rebellion and a perfect reason for impeachment,” a resolution by the Democratic Party stated, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Offers to resign: Senior aides of the President have offered to resign after the fiasco. These include the presidential chief of staff, national security adviser, chief of staff for policy, and seven other aides.

The ruling People Power Party has urged the President to explain his decision and sack the defence minister who reportedly proposed martial law to Yoon. Party leader Han Dong-hun has said that the entire Cabinet should resign.

Can President Yoon be impeached?

According to news agency AP, two-thirds of the parliament, or 200 of its 300 members, must vote in favour of impeaching the President.

People protest to call for President Yoon’s resignation at the national assembly in Seoul, South Korea, December 4, 2024. (Reuters)

The Democratic Party along with other Opposition parties make 192 members, falling just eight short of the required number. However, among the 190 lawmakers who ruled against martial law, as many as 18 were members of the ruling party. Hence, lawmakers might have enough strength to impeach President Yoon.

What happens if President Yoon is impeached?

If Yoon is impeached, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will take over his presidential responsibilities. The fate of the President, meanwhile, will be decided by the Constitutional Court.

In a public statement after the martial was lifted, the Prime Minister said, “Until the last moment, I will serve the people by pooling the wisdom of our Cabinet members.” He urged the Cabinet members to “fulfil their responsibilities” to ensure people’s everyday lives and safety are maintained.

An unpopular President

President Yoon, who came to power in 2022 with a margin of less than 1 per cent, has long been considered an unpopular leader. The main Opposition party, meanwhile, held a majority in Parliament, making Yoon a “lame duck” President, who could only veto bills passed by the Opposition.

In the lead-up to martial law, the Opposition had downsized the budget bill – which cannot be vetoed by the President. Yoon has also been mired in scandals, with his wife being accused of accepting 3 million South Korean won and a luxury Dior handbag.

South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, lawmakers and people attend a rally to condemn South Korean President. (Reuters)

President Yoon, while declaring the emergency martial law on Tuesday night, said it was “aimed at eradicating pro-North Korean forces and to protect the constitutional order of freedom”.

The declaration of martial law, the first since 1979, meant the replacement of civilian government by military rule. According to South Korea’s Constitution, the President can declare martial law in times of war or conflict and if the public order requires it.

The martial law lasted six hours, which saw military helicopters circling the National Assembly and troops rushing towards the building. Members of the public warded off the military as lawmakers fought to rush inside the building to vote against the martial law. All of the 190 lawmakers who made it in voted to repeal the martial law. Following this, the motion for the martial law was declared void.