President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3, and South Korea is still reeling from the consequences. Although the National Assembly overwhelmingly rejected the proclamation within hours, political issues remain unresolved.

President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3, and South Korea is still reeling from the consequences. Although the National Assembly overwhelmingly rejected the proclamation within hours, political issues remain unresolved. Citizens are becoming concerned and frustrated with the existing government. Rapid and decisive action is required to stabilize the economy and diplomatic relations, with bipartisan cooperation vital for tackling the issue. President Yoon Denies Liability Amid Growing Criticism South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol addressed a nationwide speech on December 12 amid the ongoing political crisis, announcing his desire to remain in office and oppose ongoing impeachment proceedings and probes. He described the imposition of martial law as a “sophisticated political decision,” and attempted to justify his actions by citing the purported paralysis.

The Costs of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Opposition to Asia Unbound and Asia Program. Costs of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Defiance President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3, and South Korea is still reeling from the consequences. Although the National Assembly overwhelmingly rejected the proclamation within hours, political issues remain unresolved. A person walks by placards with photographs of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on the day of a rally asking for the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who declared martial law, which was later reversed, near the National Assembly. A person passes by placards with photographs of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on the day of a rally asking for the impeachment of South Korea.

The aftermath has been immediate and dramatic. The ruling party, which had previously protected Yoon from impeachment during the first vote on December 7, suddenly reversed course and rallied its ethics committee to openly condemn the president’s address. Han Dong-hoon, the ruling party’s leader, expressed surprise at the president’s attitude, claiming that the People Power Party (PPP) must now reach an agreement on impeachment. Han stressed that Yoon had violated his earlier promise to defer to the party’s decision on his political destiny. This unexpected change of events has spurred numerous PPP legislators to publicly support impeachment, with a crucial second vote slated for December 14. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) immediately condemned Yoon, portraying the speech as a delusional attempt to galvanize support among far-right supporters by highlighting the legal intricacies of his defense.

This development came just days after Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon delivered a joint national address in which they announced plans to remove President Yoon from state affairs, with the Prime Minister assuming leadership during the administration’s expected early termination. While the ruling party appeared to be strategically manoeuvring toward Yoon’s early departure rather than impeachment—seemingly attempting to preempt the opposition from gaining significant political advantage—this approach is now dramatically challenged by Yoon’s new national address and the emerging internal disagreements among ruling party members regarding his possible impeachment.

In the midst of a fast changing political scene, the National Assembly passed legislation establishing a permanent special counsel to investigate President Yoon and his top officials, including the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and Martial Law Commander. The probe included fourteen separate charges, ranging from treason to unlawful arrest of politicians. Notably, twenty-three members of the ruling party voted in support of the bill, highlighting the party’s profound internal splits on President Yoon’s future and potential culpability. Concurrently, the police and prosecutors launched their own investigations into Yoon’s treason allegations, arrested Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who had served as Yoon’s key advisor, and attempted an unsuccessful raid on the Presidential office.