Seoul: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday declared his intention to “fight to the end” amid mounting calls for his impeachment over his controversial martial law declaration earlier this month. The move, which was quickly rescinded, has plunged the nation into political and economic turmoil.
In a nationally televised address, Yoon alleged that North Korea hacked the National Election Commission (NEC), casting doubt on his party’s devastating defeat in the April elections. However, his claims lacked evidence, and his speech appeared to erode further support within his own People Power Party (PPP).
The PPP leader publicly called for Yoon to resign or face impeachment. Late on Thursday, six opposition parties, led by the Democratic Party, submitted a bill for Yoon’s impeachment, with a vote expected on Saturday. Opposition lawmakers require at least eight votes from the PPP to secure the two-thirds majority necessary to impeach him.
Yoon accused the opposition of pursuing a “sword dance of madness” aimed at unseating a democratically elected president. “I will fight to the end,” he asserted. “Whether they impeach me or investigate me, I will face it all squarely.”
Constitutional Battle Looms
Should the impeachment vote succeed, the matter would proceed to the Constitutional Court, which has six months to determine whether to uphold Yoon’s removal or reinstate him. Yoon, a seasoned prosecutor and legal expert, appears prepared to contest the charges in court, potentially paving the way for a political comeback.
The impeachment motion follows the December 3 martial law declaration, which Yoon justified as a response to alleged election irregularities caused by North Korean hacking. However, the declaration was widely condemned, triggering South Korea’s most significant political crisis in decades.
U.S. Forces Reassure Seoul
On Thursday, U.S. Forces Korea Commander Paul LaCamera reassured South Korea’s acting defense minister of the readiness of U.S. troops stationed in the country to respond to external threats. The statement emphasized respect for South Korea’s sovereignty. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea.
Accusations of Insurrection and Opposition Criticism
Yoon is also under criminal investigation for alleged insurrection related to the martial law order. The opposition Democratic Party has strongly criticized his actions, with senior member Kim Min-seok describing Yoon’s address as a “display of extreme delusion.”
The NEC dismissed Yoon’s claims, calling them a “self-defeating act” against the same election system that brought him to power in 2022. It acknowledged previous discussions with the National Intelligence Service regarding “security vulnerabilities” but stated there was no evidence of a North Korean hack compromising the election results.
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Closed-circuit TV footage revealed troops entering the NEC’s server room during the martial law declaration, though it remains unclear if they removed any equipment. Yoon described the declaration as a symbolic act to expose an alleged opposition plot to destabilize the nation.
Despite Yoon’s denials, testimony from a military officer indicated that the president ordered soldiers to block parliament and remove lawmakers. Yoon maintained that only experienced soldiers, not conscripts, were deployed to prevent civilian harm.
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Growing Political Fallout
The impeachment push reflects deepening political divisions in South Korea, with Yoon’s claims of election interference and his handling of recent events further alienating his political allies. Opposition lawmakers have also demanded an investigation into alleged misconduct by Yoon’s wife, intensifying the crisis surrounding his presidency.
