View source for Impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol

{{Short description|2024 South Korean presidential impeachment}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox impeachment process
| image          = 20241214 ROK NA Speaker Woo Won Shik signing the resolution to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol 02.jpg
| caption        = [[Speaker of the National Assembly (South Korea)|Speaker]] of the National Assembly [[Woo Won-shik]] signing the article of impeachment
| alt            = Reporters surrounding Woo with cameras as he signs the article of impeachment
| image_upright  = 1.2
| accused        = [[Yoon Suk Yeol]] {{nowrap|([[President of South Korea]])}}
| proponents     = 
| date           = 14 December 2024
| accusations    = [[Treason]]<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Sheila |last2=Kim |first2=Duyeon |date=9 December 2024 |title=President Yoon's Impeachment? The View From Seoul |url=https://www.cfr.org/blog/president-yoons-impeachment-view-seoul |access-date=14 December 2024 |website=[[Council on Foreign Relations]] |language=en |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214002054/https://www.cfr.org/blog/president-yoons-impeachment-view-seoul |url-status=live }}</ref>
| cause          = [[2024 South Korean martial law crisis|Declaration of martial law]]
| header_votes   =
| vote1          = First impeachment motion<br>7 December 2024
| present1       = {{composition bar|195|300|gray|per=1}}
| not_voting1    = {{composition bar|105|300|gray|per=1}}
| result1        = Votes not counted due to failure to reach [[quorum]] amid [[People Power Party (South Korea)|PPP]] boycott; impeachment unsuccessful
| vote2          = Second impeachment motion<br>14 December 2024
| votes_favor2   = {{Composition bar|204|300|green|per=1}}
| votes_against2 = {{Composition bar|85|300|red|per=1}}
| present2       = 
| not_voting2    = 
| result2        = Impeached
* Yoon's presidential powers and duties are suspended for the duration of the impeachment trial
* Prime Minister [[Han Duck-soo]] becomes acting president
| vote3          = Decision by [[Constitutional Court of Korea]]
| votes_favor3   = 
| votes_against3 = 
| present3       = 
| not_voting3    = 
| result3        = Pending
}}

On 14 December 2024, [[Yoon Suk Yeol]], the [[president of South Korea]], was [[impeached]] by the [[National Assembly (South Korea)|National Assembly]]. This action came in response to Yoon's [[2024 South Korean martial law|declaration of martial law]] on 3 December, which was overturned by the National Assembly and officially withdrawn six hours later on 4 December.

Incumbent prime minister [[Han Duck-soo]] assumed the role of acting president pending the [[Constitutional Court of Korea|Constitutional Court]]'s decision on whether to remove Yoon from office. An [[Impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol#First motion|earlier impeachment motion]] was put to a parliamentary vote on 7 December 2024 but failed because the number of attending legislators did not meet the quorum required for its passage, as members of the ruling [[People Power Party (South Korea)|People Power Party]] (PPP) boycotted the vote.

The motion marks the third impeachment of a South Korean president: [[Roh Moo-hyun]] was impeached in 2004 but acquitted by the Constitutional Court, while [[Park Geun-hye]] was impeached in 2016 and subsequently convicted and removed from office in 2017 after the Constitutional Court's confirmation.

[[Opinion polling on the Yoon Suk Yeol presidency]] throughout 2024 has consistently found the majority criticizing him and his acts as a leader. The declaration of martial law have hardened these views and have caused most individuals in South Korea, when surveyed, to demand either for him to resign voluntarily or for him to be formally removed from office. Protests against the government's actions have involved hundreds of thousands attending demonstrations during the month of December.

==Background==
{{Yoon Suk Yeol sidebar}}<!-- Lead sidebars are discouraged by MOS:LEAD. -->
{{If mobile|[[File:South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol portrait.jpg|thumb|[[Yoon Suk Yeol]] in 2022]]<!--Image is in sidebar on desktop-->}}

Only one Korean president, [[Park Geun-hye]], has been removed from office through [[Impeachment of Park Geun-hye|impeachment]], which occurred in 2017.<ref name="Reuters c">{{Cite news |date=4 December 2024 |title=How a presidential impeachment works in South Korea as Yoon faces backlash |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/how-impeach-south-korean-president-2024-12-04/ |work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref> [[Roh Moo-hyun]] was [[Impeachment of Roh Moo-hyun|impeached in 2004]] on accusations of illegal electioneering, incompetence, and economic mismanagement. However, the Constitutional Court cleared him of two infractions and deemed the remaining charge not serious enough to warrant removal, allowing him to remain in office.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 May 2004 |title=S. Korean court reinstatesRoh (sic) as president |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4973410 |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=NBC News |language=en |agency=[[Associated Press]] |archive-date=4 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204205648/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4973410 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Impeachment procedure===
The procedure for impeachment is set out in the 10th [[Constitution of South Korea]] in 1987. Article 65, Clause 1, specifies that the [[National Assembly (South Korea)|National Assembly]] may impeach the [[President of South Korea|president]], [[Prime Minister of South Korea|prime minister]], or other state officials if they violate the constitution or other laws while performing official duties.<ref>{{cite constitution |article=65 |clause=1 |polity=South Korea |date=1987 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mosler |first=Hannes B. |date=2017 |title=The Institution of Presidential Impeachment in South Korea, 1992–2017 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26429313 |journal=Verfassung und Recht in Übersee / Law and Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America |volume=50 |issue=2 |pages=119–120 |doi=10.5771/0506-7286-2017-2-111 |jstor=26429313 |issn=0506-7286}}</ref>

For an impeachment motion against a sitting president to pass, a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly{{snd}}200 out of 300 members{{snd}}must vote in favor.<ref name="Guardian">{{Cite news |last=Rashid |first=Raphael |date=5 December 2024 |title=How South Korea's impeachment process works after Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law bid |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/05/how-south-koreas-impeachment-process-works-after-yoon-suk-yeols-martial-law-bid |access-date=6 December 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Once passed, the individual is immediately suspended from their duties pending a ruling by the [[Constitutional Court of Korea]]. The scope of impeachment is limited to removal from public office, with no further penalties imposed through this process.<ref name="CNBC">{{Cite news |last=Butts |first=Dylan |date=4 December 2024 |title=South Korean President Yoon faces impeachment: How did we get here? |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/05/south-korean-president-yoon-faces-impeachment-how-did-we-get-here-.html |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=[[CNBC]]}}</ref>

According to the Constitutional Court Act passed in 1988, the Constitutional Court must render a decision within 180 days after it receives any case for adjudication, including impeachment cases. If the respondent has already left office before the decision, the case is dismissed.<ref name="CNBC" /> Formal removal of the president requires six of the nine justices voting in favor; due to three vacancies, all six justices would have to vote to remove him. Article 23 of the Constitutional Court Act requires at least seven justices for deliberation.<ref name="Guardian" />

If the National Assembly impeaches the president, the president is immediately suspended from office, with the prime minister assuming the role of acting president. In the event of the president's resignation or removal by the Constitutional Court, an early [[Presidential elections in South Korea|presidential election]] is required to be held within 60 days. During this interim period, the prime minister continues to serve as acting president until the election of a new president.<ref name="Guardian" />

===Previous calls to impeach Yoon===
{{see also|Yoon Suk Yeol#Calls for resignation}}

In July 2024, an online petition started on the National Assembly's website calling for Yoon's impeachment gathered over a million signatures, with all petitions with over 50,000 signatures required under law to be reviewed by a [[parliamentary committee]]. The website [[Crash (computing)|crashed]], with over 22,000 people concurrently waiting to access the website with an estimated wait time of 30 minutes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 July 2024 |title='Public anger': Hundreds of thousands sign online petition demanding impeachment of President Yoon |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-02/south-korea-president-impeach-petition/104046548 |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=3 July 2024 |title=Over 1 m citizens demand President Yoon's impeachment in online petition |url=https://www.chosun.com/english/2024/07/04/ZOT76TJ4DBEBPDLWIDRDHQINYY/ |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=[[The Chosun Daily]] |language=en |archive-date=9 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209203045/https://www.chosun.com/english/2024/07/04/ZOT76TJ4DBEBPDLWIDRDHQINYY/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2024, over 3,000 professors and researchers at various universities signed a letter asking Yoon to resign.<ref name="Korea Times" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=김 |first=휘란 |date=14 November 2024 |title='권력 사유화 윤석열 퇴진' 고려대·국민대 교수들도 시국선언 |trans-title='Privatizing Power, Yoon Seok-yeol, Step Down' Professors from Korea University and Kookmin University Also Declare Current Affairs |url=https://news.jtbc.co.kr/article/NB12223102 |access-date=28 November 2024 |work=[[JTBC]] |language=ko |archive-date=1 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201162553/https://news.jtbc.co.kr/article/NB12223102 |url-status=live }}</ref> One interviewer speculated that the letter had received the highest number of signatures from academics since [[2016–2017 South Korean protests|protests during the Park Geun-hye administration]].<ref name="Korea Times">{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Hae-rin |date=23 November 2024 |title=Over 3,000 university professors demand President Yoon Suk Yeol's resignation |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/11/281_386904.html |access-date=24 November 2024 |work=[[The Korea Times]] |language=en |archive-date=24 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241124025255/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/11/281_386904.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 28 November, 1,466 South Korean [[Priesthood in the Catholic Church|Catholic priests]] also called for Yoon to be impeached, issuing a statement titled "How could a person be like this" ({{Korean|hangul=어째서 사람이 이 모양인가|labels=no}}), which claimed that he is a puppet of private interests who has no idea what he does or who he is and who had handed over the authority entrusted to him by the people to his wife.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 November 2024 |title='윤석열, 사람이 어째서 그 모양인가'..천주교 사제 1466명 시국선언 |trans-title='Yoon Seok-yeol, why is he like that?' 1,466 Catholic priests declare their stance on the current situation |url=https://imnews.imbc.com/news/2024/society/article/6660796_36438.html |access-date=28 November 2024 |work=[[MBC TV (South Korean TV channel)|MBC]] |language=ko |archive-date=3 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203043932/https://imnews.imbc.com/news/2024/society/article/6660796_36438.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Martial law declaration===
{{Main|2024 South Korean martial law crisis}}

On 3 December, Yoon declared [[martial law]] in South Korea, stating that martial law was necessary to defend the country from anti-state forces. Military and police forces attempted to prevent legislators from entering the [[National Assembly Proceeding Hall]], causing clashes between the security forces, protesters, and legislative aides. All 190 legislators who were present in the chamber unanimously voted to demand the lifting of martial law, forcing Yoon to lift martial law around 04:00 [[Korean Standard Time|KST]] on 4 December.<ref name="Reuters c" />

==Impeachment==

===First motion===
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"
|+ First motion to impeach Yoon
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Choice
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Votes
|- 
! scope="row" {{yes|{{tick}} Yes}}
| rowspan='4" | ''Not counted''<br>195 (65%)
|- 
! scope="row" {{no|{{cross}} No}}
|- 
! scope="row" | Abstentions
|- 
! scope="row" | Invalid
|-
! scope="row" | Not voting
| 105 (35%)
|-
| colspan="2" | Impeachment '''unsuccessful'''
|}

Following the martial law declaration, all six opposition parties{{snd}}the [[Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015)|DPK]], [[Rebuilding Korea Party]], [[New Reform Party (South Korea)|New Reform Party]], [[Progressive Party (South Korea, 2017)|Progressive Party]], [[Basic Income Party]], and [[Social Democratic Party (South Korea)|Social Democratic Party]]{{snd}}submitted the motion to impeach Yoon during a [[plenary session]] of the National Assembly on 4 December. The vote was set for 7 December.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Wonju |date=4 December 2024 |title=Main opposition seeks vote on Yoon impeachment motion Saturday |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241205006451315?section=national/politics |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |archive-date=7 December 2024 |access-date=6 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207093429/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241205006451315?section=national/politics |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following an emergency meeting of the PPP, its leader, [[Han Dong-hoon]], initially announced the party's unanimous opposition to the impeachment efforts.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 December 2024 |title=South Korea's ruling party to fight Yoon impeachment as president clings to power |url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20241205-south-korea-s-ruling-party-says-it-will-block-impeachment-motion-against-president-yoon |access-date=6 December 2024 |work=[[France 24]] |language=en |archive-date=6 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206020743/https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20241205-south-korea-s-ruling-party-says-it-will-block-impeachment-motion-against-president-yoon |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Reuters a">{{Cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Joyce |last2=Jin |first2=Hyunjoo |date=4 December 2024 |title=South Korean ruling party to oppose Yoon impeachment after martial law debacle |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korean-ruling-party-oppose-yoons-impeachment-2024-12-04/ |access-date=7 December 2024 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref><ref name="Barron's a">{{Cite news |date=4 December 2024 |title=S. Korea's Ruling People Power Party Chief Asks President To Leave Party |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/s-korea-s-ruling-people-power-party-chief-asks-president-to-leave-party-2940a9d9 |work=[[Barron's]] |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]}}</ref> However, on 6 December, Han revealed that the PPP had received evidence indicating that Yoon had ordered [[Defense Counterintelligence Command]]er Yeo In-hyung to arrest key politicians, including Han himself,<ref name="BBC News">{{Cite news |title=South Korea: President Yoon's arrest list included own party leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8y7ggm89lo |access-date=6 December 2024 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206101046/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8y7ggm89lo |url-status=live }}</ref> on "anti-state charges" during martial law and detain them in [[Gwacheon]], prompting Han to call on Yoon to "suspend his duties soon" and warning that citizens could be in "great danger" if Yoon remained in office.<ref name="NYT a">{{Cite news |last=Sang-Hun |first=Choe |date=5 December 2024 |title=Head of South Korean President's Party Calls for His Impeachment |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/world/asia/south-korea-yoon-impeachment.html |access-date=7 December 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=6 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206173802/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/world/asia/south-korea-yoon-impeachment.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeong-Won |first=Lim |date=6 December 2024 |title=PPP leader calls for Yoon's 'immediate suspension from duty' |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-12-06/national/politics/PPP-leader-calls-for-Yoons-immediate-suspension-from-duty/2194336 |access-date=6 December 2024 |work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |language=en |archive-date=6 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206170532/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-12-06/national/politics/PPP-leader-calls-for-Yoons-immediate-suspension-from-duty/2194336 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC News" />

Hours before the National Assembly convened on 7 December, Yoon apologized for declaring martial law, describing it as "desperate decision made by me, the president, as the final authority responsible for state affairs" and promising there would not be a second declaration of martial law.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Juhyun |last2=Gallo |first2=William |date=7 December 2024 |title=Ahead of impeachment vote, Yoon apologizes for anxiety over martial law decree |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/ahead-of-impeachment-vote-yoon-apologizes-for-anxiety-over-martial-law-decree-/7890651.html |work=[[Voice of America]] |archive-date=7 December 2024 |access-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207202930/https://www.voanews.com/a/ahead-of-impeachment-vote-yoon-apologizes-for-anxiety-over-martial-law-decree-/7890651.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He also pledged to delegate his political functions to the PPP.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Son |first=Ji-hyoung |date=7 December 2024 |title=Uncertainty looms over Yoon's plans to delegate power to party |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241207050035 |access-date=7 December 2024 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en |archive-date=10 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210100055/https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241207050035 |url-status=live }}</ref> DPK leader and main opposition leader [[Lee Jae-myung]] called the apology "disappointing" and insisted on Yoon's resignation or impeachment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Dong-woo |date=7 December 2024 |title=Main opposition says Yoon's apology 'disappointing,' no option remains other than resignation or impeachment |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241207001251320 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |archive-date=8 December 2024 |access-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208053028/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241207001251320 |url-status=live }}</ref> He also criticized Yoon's power-sharing arrangement with the PPP as "destroying the constitutional order",<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Seung-yeon |date=8 December 2024 |title=DP leader accuses ruling party, PM of 'destroying constitutional order' |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241208003053320 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |archive-date=8 December 2024 |access-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208173602/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241208003053320 |url-status=live }}</ref> while DPK Floor Leader [[Park Chan-dae]] called the arrangement a "second coup".<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 December 2024 |title=South Korea's opposition accuse ruling party of staging 'second coup' by refusing to impeach Yoon |url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20241209-south-korea-opposition-ruling-party-coup |work=[[France 24]] |archive-date=10 December 2024 |access-date=10 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210035617/https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20241209-south-korea-opposition-ruling-party-coup |url-status=live }}</ref> Prior to the impeachment vote, a motion was discussed on whether to launch a special counsel investigation on Yoon's wife [[Kim Keon-hee]] but ultimately failed due to opposition by the PPP.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Arin |date=7 December 2024 |title=How Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment bill failed |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241207050037 |work=[[The Korea Herald]]}}</ref>

{{Multiple image
| total_width       = 300
| image1            = AhnCheolSoo2022.png
| image2            = 김예지 의원 (3x4).jpg
| footer            = 
| alt1              = Ahn Cheol-soo speaking
| alt2              = Kim Ye-ji with a neutral expression
| caption1          = [[Ahn Cheol-soo]] was the only PPP lawmaker to not leave the chamber before voting.
| caption2          = {{Ill|Kim Ye-ji (politician)|lt=Kim Ye-ji|ko|김예지 (1980년)}} was one of two PPP lawmakers who left the chamber but later returned.
}}

Before voting began, all PPP lawmakers except one, [[Ahn Cheol-soo]], left the voting chamber, meaning the bill would be unlikely to pass.<ref name="BBC b">{{Cite news |date=7 December 2024 |title=Impeachment vote can proceed – but there's little point |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c205634nw13t?post=asset%3A7aac574c-d829-42f6-bb12-a6e22b9203f8#post |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> This came amid the possibility of PPP lawmakers deviating from the party's position through the secret balloting process.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Rahn |date=7 December 2024 |title=Ruling party faces harsher criticism for boycotting impeachment vote |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_387904.html |work=[[The Korea Times]] |archive-date=7 December 2024 |access-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207164318/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_387904.html |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Ill|Kim Ye-ji (politician)|lt=Kim Ye-ji|ko|김예지 (1980년)}} left but later returned;<ref name="BBC c">{{Cite news |date=7 December 2024 |title=One ruling party MP returns to chamber |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c205634nw13t?post=asset%3Ad8fce9a5-2b49-47ed-a64d-015c1f329827#post |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=7 December 2024 |title=Two more ruling party MPs come back |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c205634nw13t?post=asset%3Af3f45945-1000-4845-a0a1-87d42d5d144b#post |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214144912/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c205634nw13t?post=asset:f3f45945-1000-4845-a0a1-87d42d5d144b#post |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Ill|Kim Sang-wook (politician)|lt=Kim Sang-wook|ko|김상욱 (1980년)}} returned to vote but said he voted against impeachment.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 December 2024 |title=Ruling party MP says he returned to vote against impeachment |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c205634nw13t?post=asset%3A2df73124-0dd1-43e5-881d-ad9b4fb446ae#post |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> Protesters attempted to block the exits of the National Assembly Proceeding Hall as PPP lawmakers left, calling the leaving lawmakers "cowards" and encouraging them to vote.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mackenzie |first=Jean |date=7 December 2024 |title=Enormous anger outside voting chamber as ruling party MPs leave |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c205634nw13t?post=asset%3A999cd9af-b577-45ab-b897-8848463017a3#post |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=9 December 2024 |access-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209103127/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c205634nw13t?post=asset%3A999cd9af-b577-45ab-b897-8848463017a3#post |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Rebuilding Korea Party]] lawmaker [[Kim Joon-hyung (professor)|Kim Joon-hyung]] said that he expected voting to go on until 00:00 KST on 8 December at the latest;<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 December 2024 |title='Listen to the people,' opposition MP tells ruling party |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c205634nw13t?post=asset%3Abac8debb-cb84-42c5-8837-7461bb7dfe96#post |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214144918/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c205634nw13t?post=asset:bac8debb-cb84-42c5-8837-7461bb7dfe96#post |url-status=live }}</ref> the deadline to vote was 00:48 KST, three days after the motion was introduced.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Natalie |date=7 December 2024 |title=A path is being cleared to the chamber |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c205634nw13t?post=asset%3A8e815fb6-1e0b-4dbf-95a5-79a421a7e179#post |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

National Assembly Speaker [[Woo Won-shik]] closed voting early at 21:20 KST and initially announced the start of counting shortly after, but then announced that votes would not be counted due to failing to reach the [[quorum]], with only 195 members present of the 200 needed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vote to impeach South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol fails after boycott by ruling party MPs |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c205634nw13t?post=asset:8028165c-310c-4fd3-8426-74177ce8630b#post |access-date=7 December 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Cynthia |last2=Park |first2=Ju-min |last3=Lee |first3=Joyce |date=7 December 2024 |title=South Korea's Yoon survives martial law impeachment move after his party boycotts vote |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-president-yoon-address-nation-ahead-impeachment-vote-2024-12-07/ |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

===Between motions===
Following the first impeachment motion, PPP Leader [[Han Dong-hoon]] said that the PPP would continue to "push for the president's orderly retreat to minimize chaos",<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Eun-jung |date=7 December 2024 |title=PPP leader vows 'orderly retreat' of Yoon after impeachment motion scrapped |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241207006200315 |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |archive-date=12 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212093059/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241207006200315 |url-status=live }}</ref> while PPP Floor Leader [[Choo Kyung-ho]] resigned, saying that he would take responsibility for "the third presidential impeachment vote in [South Korea's] constitutional history".<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 December 2024 |title=PPP floor leader resigns amid impeachment vote fallout |url=https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2024/12/07/E6G77T23QFFHTIQHGGK5RZZWUE/ |work=[[The Chosun Daily]] |archive-date=12 December 2024 |access-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212190538/https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2024/12/07/E6G77T23QFFHTIQHGGK5RZZWUE/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Prime Minister [[Han Duck-soo]] (Independent) said that he would "make all-out efforts to promptly stabilize the current situation".<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 December 2024 |title=PM vows all-out efforts to promptly stabilize situation as Yoon impeachment motion scrapped |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_387901.html |work=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref> The DPK said that it would continue to file impeachment motions against Yoon on a weekly basis.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Boram |date=7 December 2024 |title=Main opposition vows to push for Yoon impeachment every week |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241207006051320 |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |archive-date=13 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213054133/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241207006051320 |url-status=live }}</ref> 

On 8 December, former Defense Minister [[Kim Yong-hyun (general)|Kim Yong-hyun]] was arrested by prosecutors on suspicion of committing insurrection by advising President Yoon to declare martial law and sending troops into the National Assembly to seize the legislature.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 2024 |title=Prosecution arrests ex-defense minister over treason charges |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/113_387908.html |access-date=7 December 2024 |website=The Korea Times |language=en |archive-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208100645/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/113_387908.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ji-hyoung |first=Son |date=8 December 2024 |title=[Breaking] Ex-Defense Minister arrested for insurrection, abuse of authority |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241208050001 |access-date=8 December 2024 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en |archive-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207235907/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241208050001 |url-status=live }}</ref> That same day, Han Dong-hoon said that the PPP had "effectively obtained (Yoon's) promise to step down" in exchange for the party blocking his impeachment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 2024 |title=South Korea president to resign despite surviving impeachment vote, party says |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241208-south-korea-ex-defence-chief-reportedly-arrested-as-president-hangs-on |access-date=8 December 2024 |website=France 24 |language=en |archive-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208062339/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241208-south-korea-ex-defence-chief-reportedly-arrested-as-president-hangs-on |url-status=live }}</ref> A PPP special task force proposed that Yoon leave office in February or March 2025 and called for a snap presidential election to be held in April or May.<ref>{{cite news |title=South Korean police blocked from raid on president's office |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241211-south-korea-police-raid-president-s-office |access-date=11 December 2024 |work=France 24 |date=11 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref> 

On 10 December, the National Assembly passed a bill creating a permanent special counsel to investigate Yoon on charges of treason relating to his martial law declaration. The motion passed with 210 MPs, including 23 PPP members, in favor after the party allowed its members to [[conscience vote|vote according to their individual decision]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kwak |first=Yeon-soo |date=10 December 2024 |title=National Assembly passes permanent special counsel probe bill into Yoon's treason charges |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388133.html |access-date=10 December 2024 |work=The Korea Times |language=en |archive-date=10 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210193651/https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388133.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 12 December, Yoon issued a statement vowing to "fight to the end", resisting the push for his resignation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Choe |first1=Sang-Hun |date=11 December 2024 |title=In Defiant Speech, South Korea's President Defends Martial Law Decree |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/world/asia/yoon-south-korea-martial-law.html |work=The New York Times |archive-date=12 December 2024 |access-date=12 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212061541/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/world/asia/yoon-south-korea-martial-law.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following Yoon's statement, Han Dong-hoon called for Yoon's impeachment and convened an ethics committee to discuss Yoon's expulsion from the PPP.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chae |first1=Yun-hwan |date=12 December 2024 |title=Ruling party chief throws support for Yoon impeachment |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241212003152315 |work=Yonhap News Agency |archive-date=13 December 2024 |access-date=12 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213131841/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241212003152315 |url-status=live }}</ref> 

===Second motion===
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"
|+ Second motion to impeach Yoon
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Choice
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Votes
|- 
! scope="row" {{yes|{{tick}} Yes}}
| 204 (68%)
|- 
! scope="row" {{no|{{cross}} No}}
| 85 (28.3%)
|- 
! scope="row" | Abstentions
| 3 (1%)
|- 
! scope="row" | Invalid
| 8 (2.7%)
|-
! scope="row" | Not voting
| 0
|-
| colspan="2" | Impeachment '''successful'''
|}

The DPK filed its second motion to impeach Yoon on 12 December, with the vote scheduled for 14 December 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Haye-ah |date=12 December 2024 |title=Main opposition files new motion to impeach Yoon over martial law declaration |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241211009451315 |work=Yonhap News Agency |archive-date=13 December 2024 |access-date=12 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213211204/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241211009451315 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Prior to the vote, seven PPP lawmakers expressed their intention to participate,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yi |first1=Wonju |date=12 December 2024 |title=Main opposition files new motion to impeach Yoon over martial law declaration |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241211009400315 |work=Yonhap News Agency |archive-date=13 December 2024 |access-date=12 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213001148/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241211009400315 |url-status=live }}</ref> including Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Ye-ji and Kim Sang-wook, who participated in the previous voting, as well as Bae Hyun-jin, who had not expressed her intentions in the next vote. On 10 December, Kim Sang-wook, who voted against the impeachment motion, announced that he would support impeachment and apologized for his previous decision.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=Ruling party's Bae Hyun-jin to join impeachment vote this week, signaling crack in party unity |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388136.html |access-date=10 December 2024 |website=The Korea Times |language=en |archive-date=10 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210102149/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388136.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg7pv278ezo |title=Net closing in on South Korea's president as MPs get death threats over impeachment vote|website=BBC News}}</ref>

Before the vote began on 14 December, Han Dong-hoon announced that while his party opposed impeachment, it would engage in the vote, encouraging lawmakers to vote "[[Conscience vote|according to their conscience]] and beliefs rather than following partisan interests".<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2024 |title=PPP says it will participate in the impeachment vote |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1wq025v421t?post=asset%3A3ce6c1ae-a9ea-4315-809a-2e6bc503ac98#post |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214144920/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1wq025v421t?post=asset:3ce6c1ae-a9ea-4315-809a-2e6bc503ac98#post |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after 16:00 KST, with six PPP members present, speaker [[Woo Won-shik]] announced the beginning of the vote, saying "I hope every one of you will participate in the vote".<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2024 |title=Opposition MPs seated in the chamber |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1wq025v421t?post=asset%3A4cef86c3-145a-4e10-870f-c23ff51e006a#post |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2024 |title=Impeachment vote session begins |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1wq025v421t?post=asset%3Aa65a6cac-e4e4-449b-a410-6618bd63557f#post |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214144911/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1wq025v421t?post=asset:a65a6cac-e4e4-449b-a410-6618bd63557f#post |url-status=live }}</ref> [[BBC News]] described the second vote as "a stark contrast from last weekend", citing the lack of a PPP boycott.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2024 |title=Lawmakers begin voting on impeachment |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1wq025v421t?post=asset%3A766704c2-8526-420b-a8ff-75aa151bccb4#post |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

Around 16:50 KST on 14 December, Woo announced that all 300 members had voted and vote counting had begun.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2024 |title=Vote count begins |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1wq025v421t?post=asset%3A97cdf6fc-3e9f-48f9-99ed-b439f41e4d13#post |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> As votes were counted, protesters sang "[[March for the Beloved]]", an anthem commemorating those killed during the [[Gwangju Uprising]], and "[[Into the New World]]" by [[Girls' Generation]], which was also used during the [[impeachment of Park Geun-hye]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2024 |title=Protesters sing traditional pro-democracy anthem as votes get counted |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1wq025v421t?post=asset%3A37fd7422-af1d-4ee5-b23f-0e069329c13e#post |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> 

The National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon, with 204 of 300 lawmakers supporting impeachment.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Tessa |last2=Mackenzie |first2=Jean |last3=Kwon |first3=Jake |last4=Choi |first4=Leehyun |title=South Korea's president impeached by parliament after mass protests over short-lived martial law |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1wq025v421t |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=BBC News |date=14 December 2024 |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214051854/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1wq025v421t |url-status=live }}</ref> Among those who voted in favor were 12 members of the PPP, exceeding the seven who had previously stated their intention to do so. Eighty-five lawmakers voted against impeachment, while three others abstained. Eight votes were classified as invalid.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cheers erupt, heads hang in defeat as National Assembly impeaches president |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388450.html |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=The Korea Times |date=15 December 2024 |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214185636/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388450.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly afterwards, Yoon's suspension from the presidency went into effect at 19:24 KST,<ref>{{cite news |title=Yoon suspended from presidential duties after impeachment vote |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388457.html |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=The Korea Times |date=15 December 2024 |archive-date=15 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215002050/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388457.html |url-status=live }}</ref> after his office received a copy of the impeachment resolution.<ref>{{cite news |title=(ROUNDUP) Nat'l Assembly votes to impeach Yoon over failed martial law bid |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241213009559315 |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=Yonhap News Agency |date=14 December 2024 |archive-date=15 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215010203/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241213009559315 |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Aftermath====
[[File:한덕수 총리 프로필.webp|alt=Han Duck-soo's prime minister portrait, on a gray-white background|thumb|Prime Minister [[Han Duck-soo]] became acting president after Yoon's impeachment.]]
Following the passage of the second impeachment motion, Yoon addressed the nation, acknowledging his suspension while pledging to "do my best for the nation until the end".<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2024 |title=Yoon vows to do his best until the end after impeachment vote |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388449.html |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Times]] |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214122320/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388449.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Five members of the PPP's Supreme Council resigned to take responsibility for its approval, prompting the formation of an emergency response committee system to lead the party in accordance with its regulations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kwak |first=Yeon-soo |date=15 December 2024 |title=Ruling party crumbles after passage of motion to impeach president |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/113_388461.html |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref> On 16 December, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon also resigned, acknowledging that Yoon's impeachment was "painful" while stating that he did not regret supporting it.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 December 2024 |title=Han Dong-hoon steps down as ruling party reels from Yoon impeachment |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241216050077 |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Herald]]}}</ref> The DPK said that the motion's success was "a historic victory for democracy" and pledged to continue investigating Yoon for declaring martial law.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2024 |title=Main opposition hails Yoon's impeachment motion passage as 'victory for people, democracy' |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388439.html |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref> 

With Yoon's suspension as president, his prime minister, [[Han Duck-soo]] became acting president. Amid Han being asked by police for questioning in its investigation of martial law, DPK leader Lee Jae-myung said that the party would not move to impeach Han for the time being to avoid "confusion in state affairs". Lee also called for the formation of a consultative body between the National Assembly and the government to stabilize state affairs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 December 2024 |title=Opposition chief proposes parliamentary-gov't consultative body on stabilizing state affairs |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388478.html?utm_source=taboola |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref>

===Related motions===
{{Multiple image
| total_width       = 300
| align             = left
| image1            = 2022 김용현 대통령경호처장 (crop).jpg
| image2            = Lee Sang-min 20240731.jpg
| footer            = 
| alt1              = Official portrait of Kim Yong-hyun on a white background
| alt2              = Lee Sang-min at an event
| caption1          = Defense Minister [[Kim Yong-hyun (general)|Kim Yong-hyun]]
| caption2          = Interior Minister [[Lee Sang-min (lawyer)|Lee Sang-min]]
}}

Aside from Yoon, several officials were subjected to proposals and motions for impeachment over their involvement in the declaration of martial law. These include Defense Minister [[Kim Yong-hyun (general)|Kim Yong-hyun]],<ref>{{cite news |date=4 December 2024 |title=Defense minister faces treason charges for proposing declaration of martial law |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/251_387712.html |access-date=4 December 2024 |website=[[The Korea Times]] |archive-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204115257/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/251_387712.html |url-status=live }}</ref> who resigned on 5 December,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Eun-jung |date=5 December 2024 |title=Yoon accepts defense minister's resignation amid martial law chaos |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241205002451315?section=national/politics |access-date=5 December 2024 |website=Yonhap News Agency |language=en |archive-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208103036/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241205002451315?section=national/politics |url-status=live }}</ref> and Interior Minister [[Lee Sang-min (lawyer)|Lee Sang-min]], whose impeachment motion was filed by the DPK on 7 December.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahn |first=Sung-mi |date=7 December 2024 |title=Main opposition files impeachment motion against Interior Minister Lee Sang-min |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241207050019 |access-date=7 December 2024 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en |archive-date=9 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209212526/https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241207050019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lee resigned the next day on 8 December.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 December 2024 |title=Interior Minister Lee Sang-min steps down amid martial law turmoil |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/113_387938.html |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Times]] |language=en |archive-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208123911/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/113_387938.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Park |first1=Jin-seong |last2=Park |first2=Su-hyeon |date=8 December 2024 |title=Interior minister linked to martial law allegations resigns; Yoon approves |url=https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2024/12/08/QTTTIJCQMNBAVLCMYQ4XC4LJPY/ |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |language=en |archive-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208130143/https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2024/12/08/QTTTIJCQMNBAVLCMYQ4XC4LJPY/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 12 December, the National Assembly passed impeachment motions against Justice Minister [[Park Sung-jae]] and [[National Police Agency (South Korea)|National Police Agency]] Commissioner Cho Ji-ho.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 December 2024 |title=Ruling party chief supports impeaching president |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/113_388312.html |access-date=12 December 2024 |website=[[The Korea Times]] |archive-date=12 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212104251/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/113_388312.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Constitutional Court trial ==
The [[Constitutional Court of Korea]] has 180 days from the passage of the impeachment motion to review it. The court is currently composed of only six justices, as three recently retired and have not been replaced.<ref name="Ewe-2024">{{Cite web |last=Ewe |first=Koh |last2=Mackenzie |first2=Jean |date=16 December 2024 |title=South Korea court begins Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial process |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2pl4edk13o |access-date=16 December 2024 |website=[[BBC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> It normally has nine members and is required by law to have seven to begin hearings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 December 2024 |title=Constitutional Court's impeachment review faces complicated hurdles |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/113_388431.html |access-date=15 December 2024 |website=The Korea Times |language=en |archive-date=15 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215003838/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/113_388431.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Debates have been raised in the National Assembly on whether acting president Han Duck-soo is entitled to fill the vacant seats, with the PPP opposing new appointments and the DPK supporting them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Son |first=Ji-hyoung | date=17 December 2024 |title=Parties clash over justice appointments for Yoon Suk Yeol trial |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241217050038 |access-date=17 December 2024 |work=The Korea Herald |language=en}}</ref> Yoon's impeachment became the eighth impeachment case in 2024 alone received by the court{{Snd}}the highest number in a single year in South Korean history.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Da-sol| date=15 December 2024 |title=Constitutional Court begins review of Yoon's impeachment case |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241215050037 |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=The Korea Herald |language=en}}</ref>

The impeachment motion was submitted to the court on 14 December 2024, and proceedings began on 16 December.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 December 2024 |title=Constitutional Court begins Yoon's impeachment trial process |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388452.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215043948/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388452.html |archive-date=15 December 2024 |access-date=15 December 2024 |website=The Korea Times |language=en}}</ref> The trial will proceed with six judges, and the identity of the presiding judge, typically undisclosed, was revealed due to the gravity of the case.<ref name="Ewe-2024" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 December 2024 |title=오늘 '尹 탄핵심판' 첫 헌재 재판관 회의…절차·기일 논의 |url=https://www.daejonilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=2173153 |access-date=15 December 2024 |website=대전일보 |language=ko}}</ref> Justice Cheong Hyung-sik, a Yoon appointee, was selected as the presiding judge. Kim Hong-il, a former chair of the [[Korea Communications Commission]], was announced as the head of Yoon's legal defense team, while National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair [[Jung Chung-rae]] will serve as the impeachment prosecutor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 December 2024 |title=Conservative justice to lead Yoon's impeachment trial |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/251_388562.html |access-date=16 December 2024 |website=The Korea Times |language=en}}</ref> The first preparatory hearing for the case is scheduled for 27 December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 December 2024 |title=Constitutional Court to hold Yoon's first preparatory hearing on Dec. 27 |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241216050076 |access-date=16 December 2024 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en}}</ref>

Under the constitution, if the impeachment is upheld, the president is permanently removed from office and a new presidential election must be held within 60 days of removal. In this case, if Yoon is removed and the court takes the full 180 days to decide, a new election would have to take place by 11 August 2025 at the latest.

==Popular reactions==
While the session for the first impeachment motion was underway, the crowd outside the National Assembly demanding Yoon's removal and insisting that PPP lawmakers participate in the impeachment vote was estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Eun-jung |date=7 December 2024 |title=(News Focus) Yoon survives impeachment vote, but political future remains uncertain |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241207004800315 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]]}}</ref> with some attempting to scale the walls and police barricades.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Boram |date=7 December 2024 |title=Rally participants rage over failure of Yoon impeachment motion |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241207005351315 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |archive-date=7 December 2024 |access-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207193929/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241207005351315 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 5 December, phone numbers of PPP lawmakers were released online, leading to a wave of text messages from the public urging them to support Yoon's impeachment, which continued after the impeachment motion failed. One MP, Shin Sung-bum, said that he had received 10,501 messages by 9 December.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Jaeeun |date=9 December 2024 |title=K-democracy? Lawmakers flooded with protest texts after impeachment boycott |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241209050080 |access-date=9 December 2024 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en |archive-date=9 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209205056/https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241209050080 |url-status=live }}</ref> After the motion failed, several PPP lawmakers' offices were vandalized, while others received funeral wreaths with messages such as "insurrection accomplices" written.<ref>{{cite news |title=South Korea slaps travel bans on more top officials |work=France 24 |date=9 December 2024 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241210-south-korea-slaps-travel-bans-on-more-top-officials |access-date=9 December 2024 |archive-date=12 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212111534/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241210-south-korea-slaps-travel-bans-on-more-top-officials |url-status=live }}</ref> A box cutter was also found at the residence of MP Kim Jae-sub. A petition filed at the National Assembly website calling for the PPP's dissolution garnered more than 171,000 signatures,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shin |first=Ji-hye |date=11 December 2024 |title=Angry voters want lawmakers to heed their call. But how, with election years away? |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241210050046 |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Herald]]}}</ref> exceeding the 50,000 needed to have the proposal submitted to the relevant standing committee.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Hae-rin |date=10 December 2024 |title=Ruling party lawmakers face backlash for boycotting impeachment motion |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388118.html |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Times]] |archive-date=13 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213122259/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388118.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the session for the second impeachment motion, at least 208,000 people gathered near the National Assembly in support of impeachment. Demonstrations in support of Yoon's impeachment were also held in cities nationwide, with 10,000 attending rallies in [[Jeonju]] and 30,000 others participating in [[Daegu]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Park |first=Boram |date=14 December 2024 |title=In embrace and tears, citizens celebrate 'people's victory' over Yoon's impeachment |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241214005651315 |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]]}}</ref> At the same time, a mass rally of around 40,000 people in support of Yoon was held at [[Gwanghwamun Square]] in Seoul.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2024 |title=Yoon supporters at Gwanghwamun call impeachment vote 'invalid' |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241214050036 |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Herald]]}}</ref> Trains running on [[Seoul Subway Line 9|Line 9]] of the [[Seoul Metropolitan Subway]] avoided stopping at the [[National Assembly station]] to prevent congestion-related accidents.<ref name="yna">{{Cite news |last=Song |first=Sang-ho |date=14 December 2024 |title=Dozens of Korean Americans stage rally calling for Yoon's impeachment |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241214001000315 |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |archive-date=15 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215164710/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241214001000315 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 13 December, some 50 [[Korean Americans]] demonstrated outside the [[White House]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] calling for Yoon's impeachment.<ref name="yna" />

==Analysis==
''[[The Korea Times]]'' drew comparisons between Yoon's impeachment and that of President [[Park Geun-hye]] in 2017, suggesting Yoon survived the first impeachment attempt due to PPP fears that it would suffer a crushing defeat in any ensuing snap presidential election, similar to what happened to the [[Liberty Korea Party|Saenuri Party]] seven years earlier after Park was removed from the presidency.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Rahn |date=7 December 2024 |title=Why Park Geun-hye was impeached, but Yoon Suk Yeol isn't |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_387896.html |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Times]] |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214051740/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_387896.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Next South Korean presidential election#Opinion polls|Multiple opinion polls]] have shown DPK and opposition leader Lee Jae-myung with a strong lead in any prospective matchup since early 2024, with the lead only increasing following the martial law declaration.

==Opinion polling==
{{further|Opinion polling on the Yoon Suk Yeol presidency}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"
|+ Support for Yoon's impeachment or resignation by political ideology {{as of|2024|12|12|lc=1}}<ref name="Realmeter">{{Cite web |date=12 December 2024 |title=[리얼미터] 尹 대통령 '비상계엄' 선포 사태 ① '즉시 탄핵' 74.8%, ② 계엄 트라우마 '경험 있다' 66.2% |trans-title=[Realmeter] President Yoon's declaration of 'martial law' ① 'Immediate impeachment' 74.8%, ② 'Experienced' martial law trauma 66.2% |url=http://www.realmeter.net/%eb%a6%ac%ec%96%bc%eb%af%b8%ed%84%b0-%e5%b0%b9-%eb%8c%80%ed%86%b5%eb%a0%b9-%eb%b9%84%ec%83%81%ea%b3%84%ec%97%84-%ec%84%a0%ed%8f%ac-%ec%82%ac%ed%83%9c-%e2%91%a0-%ec%a6%89/ |access-date=12 December 2024 |website=Realmeter |language=ko |archive-date=12 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212015932/http://www.realmeter.net/%EB%A6%AC%EC%96%BC%EB%AF%B8%ED%84%B0-%E5%B0%B9-%EB%8C%80%ED%86%B5%EB%A0%B9-%EB%B9%84%EC%83%81%EA%B3%84%EC%97%84-%EC%84%A0%ED%8F%AC-%EC%82%AC%ED%83%9C-%E2%91%A0-%EC%A6%89/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" | Ideology
! scope="col" | Impeachment<br />/immediate<br />resignation
! scope="col" | Orderly<br />resignation
! scope="col" | Total
|- 
! scope="row" | [[Progressivism in South Korea|Progressive]]
| 92%
| 6.9%
| 98.9%
|- 
! scope="row" | "Moderate"
| 83%
| 11.6%
| 94.6%
|- 
! scope="row" | [[Conservatism in South Korea|Conservative]]
| 43%
| 33.3%
| 76.3%
|- class="sortbottom"
! scope="row" | Total
! 74.8%
! 16.2%
! 91%
|}

Opinion polling carried out by Realmeter on 4 December 2024 found that 73.6% of respondents supported Yoon's impeachment while 24% opposed it. It also found that 70% believed that Yoon's actions constituted [[treason]] while 25% believed otherwise.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Eun-jung |date=5 December 2024 |title=Seven out of 10 support Yoon's impeachment over martial law declaration: poll |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241205004600315?section=national/national |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |archive-date=9 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209110316/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241205004600315?section=national/national |url-status=live }}</ref> Another Realmeter poll released on 12 December found 74.8% of respondents supported either Yoon's immediate resignation or impeachment, while 16.2% supported the PPP's proposal of Yoon's orderly resignation.<ref name="Realmeter" />

A [[Gallup, Inc.|Gallup]] poll released on 13 December found that Yoon's impeachment was supported by 75% of respondents and opposed by 21%. It also found that 27% of PPP supporters favored impeachment, compared to 66% opposed. Among DPK supporters, 97% supported impeachment, while 3% opposed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2024 |title=Yoon's approval rating sinks to all-time low of 11%: poll |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388364.html |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=The Korea Times |language=en |archive-date=13 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213050252/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388364.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  The same poll also found Speaker Woo Won-shik emerging as the most trusted politician in South Korea for his actions during martial law and the impeachment, with a rating of 56%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388560.html |title=Why Speaker Woo Won-shik wore a lime-green tie during impeachment |publisher=[[The Korea Times]]|date=16 December 2024|accessdate=16 December 2024}}</ref>
{{Clear|right}}

== See also ==
<!-- Don't add Park's impeachment per WP:NOTSEEAGAIN; § Impeachment procedure discusses her impeachment. -->
* [[Lee Myung-bak#Conviction and sentence|Lee Myung-bak § Conviction and sentence]]
** [[BBK stock price manipulation incident]]
* [[Roh Moo-hyun#Bribery allegations|Roh Moo-hyun § Bribery allegations]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:2024 in South Korean politics]]
[[Category:December 2024 events in South Korea]]
[[Category:Impeachment in South Korea|Yoon Suk Yeol]]
[[Category:Yoon Suk Yeol government]]
==External links==
{{wikinews|South Korean president impeached by nation's parliament}}
{{Wikisourcelang|ko|대통령(윤석열) 탄핵소추안}}