South Korean President Yoon's impeachment fails as his ruling party boycotts vote

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol escaped an impeachment vote on Saturday for his brief declaration of martial law, but his party plans to demand his resignation.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday, December 7, 2024.

South Korean Presidential Office/Yonhap/AP

Another day of high drama saw Yoon avoid being removed from office as members of his party fled parliament and boycotted the vote. Only two stayed inside, and the one government lawmaker who returned voted against the proposal.

Outside the main hall, opposition MPs were heard yelling, "Go inside [the chamber]!" and labeling them "cowards," as enormous crowds demanded the president's resignation.

President Yoon has been under great pressure to step down as leader following his surprise attempt to impose martial law in South Korea. The unsuccessful attempt, which would have been the law's first enactment in nearly four decades, caused a strong outcry.

Opposition MPs have filed another petition for Wednesday, December 11, the next possible day to vote on Yoon's impeachment.

Despite widespread opposition to Yoon's impeachment, the governing People Power Party (PPP), of which the president is a member, urges that he resign.

Han Dong-hoon, the PPP's leader, said that his party will "continue to push for the president's orderly resignation" to "minimize confusion."

Kim Joon-hyung, an opposition politician from the Rebuilding Korea Party, said that the president could not possibly serve out his whole term.

"The sooner that he resigns or impeached, the better for our country."

Yoon apologized to the nation on Saturday, his first public words since his failed effort to impose martial law, which threw the country into political disarray and prompted calls for his impeachment.

"This emergency martial law declaration stemmed from my desperation as the ultimate responsible party for state affairs," Yoon said in a two-minute speech.

"I am deeply sorry and sincerely apologize to the citizens who must have been greatly shocked," Yoon said, admitting that he "caused anxiety and inconvenience" for South Koreans.

According to Yoon, he "will not avoid the legal and political responsibility related to this martial law declaration."

The controversy began late Tuesday night, when Yoon declared martial law in an unscheduled broadcast speech, accusing the major opposition party of sympathizing with North Korea and engaging in "anti-state activities." He referenced a resolution by the Democratic Party, which holds the majority in parliament, to impeach senior prosecutors and reject a government budget plan.

However, within six hours, the leader was forced to back down as parliamentarians pushed their way past troops into parliament to unanimously overturn the edict.

On Saturday, Yoon responded to reports that martial law might be called again, saying, "There will absolutely be no second attempt at a constitutional amendment."

"I will entrust my party with methods to stabilize the political situation throughout my term..." I apologize to the folks for whatever concern I have created," Yoon said as he got off the platform and bowed.

The declaration of a military emergency, however brief, sparked shock and outrage throughout the country, which is still profoundly scarred by the harshness of martial law enforced during decades of military dictatorship before winning a long, violent war for democracy in the 1980s.

Yoon has under increasing pressure in recent days, with protestors and opposition leaders calling for his impeachment - with support dwindling even inside his own party and military.

On Friday, Han said that Yoon should be promptly suspended from duty to safeguard the country from "grave danger."

Yoon's apologies came as additional facts about the president's arrest list surfaced during the tumult, a watershed moment that caused Han to push for Yoon's suspension.

Shortly after martial law was imposed, Yoon allegedly urged Hong Jang-won, the National Intelligence Service's first deputy director, over the phone that he should "arrest and clean everything up."

Yoon said that he would grant the intelligence service the permission to conduct a counter-intelligence investigation and "unconditionally support it with funds and personnel."

Hong later learnt about the list from the Defense Counterintelligence Command (DCC) and believed it was "crazy," according to MPs who quoted him.

Han was arrested together with a number of other politicians, including opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.