The Second Impeachment Order in Constitutional History Ends 122 Days of 'Sleepless Nights' [Yoon Seok-yeol Impeachment]

122 Days Since the December 3 Emergency Martial Law
Removal Decided 111 Days After Impeachment Motion
11 Hearings Since January 14... Yoon Attends in Person for the First Time in Constitutional History
Longest Deliberation Ever Deepens Confusion
Yoon Released, But No Reversal

The impeachment turmoil triggered by the declaration of emergency martial law on December 3, which engulfed South Korea for 122 days, culminated on the 4th with the Constitutional Court's decision to uphold the impeachment, resulting in the removal of President Yoon Seok-yeol. President Yoon, who rose from a political newcomer and former Prosecutor General in 2021 to become the opposition party's presidential candidate and then the 20th president of South Korea, was impeached and ultimately removed from office, becoming the second president in history to be dismissed before completing even three years of his term.

December 3 Emergency Martial Law... South Korea Descends into Chaos

On the evening of December 3 last year at 10:23 PM, an unexpected urgent national address by President Yoon shook South Korea. The declaration of emergency martial law. During the 5 minutes and 37 seconds of the address, President Yoon stated, "I declare emergency martial law to eradicate the shameless pro-North anti-state forces at once and to protect the free constitutional order." While the entire nation was wondering if it was a dream or reality, live broadcast footage showed special forces soldiers, heavily armed and descending from helicopters, attempting to enter the National Assembly main building.

Immediately after the address, 'Martial Law Proclamation No. 1' was enacted. It included six articles such as "prohibiting all political activities including the activities of the National Assembly, local councils, political parties, political associations, assemblies, and demonstrations." It also stated that violations would be punished under Article 14 of the Martial Law Act.

Martial Law Lasted Less Than Half a Day

Although it was a nationwide emergency martial law declared abruptly for the first time in 45 years, it did not last long. About 2 hours and 30 minutes after the martial law was declared, at 1:03 AM on December 4, the National Assembly lifted the martial law. After some difficulties, 190 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties were seated in the plenary session, and the motion to lift the martial law was passed unanimously. President Yoon officially lifted the martial law through a Cabinet meeting 3 hours and 27 minutes later, at 4:30 AM on December 4.

The Third Presidential Impeachment in Constitutional History

The National Assembly immediately moved to impeach President Yoon. The first vote on December 7, three days after the lifting of martial law, failed due to lack of quorum. However, this situation did not last long. The decisive turning point came when Hong Jang-won, the first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, testified that he had taken notes of a 'list of arrests' dictated by Yeo In-hyung, the counterintelligence commander and close aide to President Yoon. This led some members of the People Power Party to switch to supporting impeachment. Ultimately, in the second impeachment vote on December 14, 204 votes were cast in favor. Immediately after the approval, the impeachment case against President Yoon was filed with the Constitutional Court under case number '2024Heonna8.'

‘Treason’ Investigation and President Yoon’s Detention

Alongside the approval of the impeachment motion, investigations by the prosecution and police intensified. This was the so-called 'treason' investigation. Suddenly, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) intervened in the investigation of President Yoon. Utilizing its authority under the CIO Act to request transfer of investigation rights, it demanded that the prosecution and police hand over investigative authority. When President Yoon’s side resisted, claiming it was an illegal investigation by the CIO without investigative powers and refused summons, an arrest warrant was requested. After more than two weeks of turmoil, the CIO arrested President Yoon on January 15, 2025, after the New Year. Four days later, on the 19th at dawn, the Seoul Western District Court issued a detention warrant. During this period, unprecedented incidents occurred where President Yoon’s supporters breached and damaged the Seoul Western District Court.

Detained President, ‘Self-Defense’ at Impeachment Trial

The Constitutional Court began formal hearings on President Yoon’s impeachment case one month after it was filed, starting January 14, 2025. Except for the Lunar New Year holiday, hearings were held twice a week, totaling 11 sessions. President Yoon, now a detained suspect, attended the impeachment trial in person eight times from the third hearing until the eleventh hearing ended on February 25, traveling between Seoul Detention Center and the Constitutional Court’s grand chamber. This was the first time in constitutional history that such an event occurred.

Sixteen witnesses appeared during the hearings. They included former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and military personnel who led the 'emergency martial law,' former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and other Cabinet members. The most contentious confrontation between the National Assembly and President Yoon’s side was with Hong Jang-won, the former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service who exposed the 'arrest list.' He was the only witness to appear twice and consistently opposed President Yoon.

Yoon’s Release and Reversal, But...

While the impeachment trial hearings concluded and the Constitutional Court justices began deliberations, a 'reversal' occurred. Ten days after the final hearing, on March 7, the Seoul Central District Court canceled the detention order, and on the 8th, the prosecution decided not to immediately appeal, leading to President Yoon’s release after 52 days in detention.

This triggered intensified confrontation between supporters and opponents of the impeachment. Members of the People Power Party actively joined the anti-impeachment camp and consolidated their forces, while the opposition party pressured Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who had not appointed additional Constitutional Court justices, even raising the possibility of impeaching him. The Constitutional Court dismissed the impeachment against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reinstating him as Acting President, and the deliberations dragged on for a record 38 days without a conclusion, deepening the confusion.

The delay in the Constitutional Court’s decision and President Yoon’s release also affected public opinion polls. Generally, support for impeachment dropped by 10 percentage points while opposition rose by the same margin. Criticism of the CIO’s chaotic investigation of President Yoon also influenced public sentiment. However, that was as far as it went.