South Korea's parliament voted Saturday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, citing allegations of rebellion related to his controversial martial law order on December 3. The decree, which lasted only six hours, has ignited a political crisis in the country. 

The National Assembly passed the impeachment motion with a vote of 204-85. Yoon's presidential duties will be suspended once the impeachment notice is delivered to him and the Constitutional Court, which has 180 days to decide whether to remove him from office or reinstate him. If dismissed, a national election must take place within 60 days. 

This marks the second attempt to impeach Yoon after a failed vote last week, where most ruling party lawmakers abstained. Growing public outcry and plummeting approval ratings have since led some members of Yoon's People Power Party to support the impeachment. 

South Korean lawmakers to vote on Impeachment of President Yoon over martial law decree

For two weeks, tens of thousands of protesters in Seoul have called for Yoon’s removal, while smaller groups of his supporters held counter-rallies. Both sides have demonstrated peacefully. 

Yoon’s martial law order, the first in over 40 years, was declared in response to tensions with the opposition Democratic Party, which holds a parliamentary majority. Yoon deployed troops and police to block a parliamentary vote on his decree, but they withdrew after lawmakers unanimously overturned the martial law. 

Opposition leaders and legal experts accuse Yoon of rebellion, arguing his decree violated constitutional provisions allowing martial law only during wartime or emergencies. They claim his actions disrupted the National Assembly and undermined democratic governance. 

The impeachment motion alleges Yoon staged a “rebellion” by using military and police forces to intimidate parliament and the public. In a defiant speech Thursday, Yoon denied the charges, claiming his actions were intended to counter the Democratic Party, which he called “anti-state forces.” 

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung condemned Yoon’s remarks, describing them as a “declaration of war” against the people. 

Yoon is banned from leaving the country as authorities investigate whether he and others involved in the martial law order committed crimes such as rebellion or abuse of power. While Yoon enjoys immunity from most criminal charges, rebellion and treason are exceptions. 

Several top officials, including the defense minister and police chiefs, have been arrested in connection with the martial law case. Investigations into other senior figures are ongoing.