South Korea’s parliament impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday following his brief and controversial martial law decree, which caused political turmoil and economic instability in the country, AP News reports.
The National Assembly voted 204-85 to suspend Yoon’s presidential powers and transfer power to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to decide whether to dismiss Yoon or restore his presidency. Public opinion strongly favored impeachment, with over 70% supporting the move.
Yoon’s martial law on December 3, which lasted only six hours, saw the deployment of troops to block parliament, sparking widespread protests and accusations of rebellion. Yoon rejected the charges and vowed to continue his duties, but his approval rating is at an all-time low, with surveys showing just 11% approval. The impeachment marks the third such case in South Korea’s history.
