On December 3, 2024, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea invoked martial law and directed military soldiers to surround the National Assembly and shut off its power. The drastic action was justified by the president as an attempt to clamp down on heightened tensions with opposition lawmakers. Yet, the National Assembly promptly nullified the martial law.
Just one week after, on December 14, 2024, the National Assembly impeached Yoon. Later, on April 4, 2025, South Korea’s Constitutional Court confirmed the impeachment, formally removing him from office. Yoon is now criminally charged with insurrection, which can carry a sentence of life imprisonment or even death.
Political instability and the next election
Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment has plunged South Korea into significant political instability. The governing People Power Party (PPP) is now finding it difficult to restore public confidence. Internal fractures, complemented by the consequences of Yoon’s martial law proclamation, have left the party’s reputation battered.
Make Korea Great Again!!
대통령님 이제 시작입니다! pic.twitter.com/SUJclZYv94— Paul Sungwon Kim (@paulswpkim) April 11, 2025
On the other hand, opposition candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has picked up steam. Lee’s platform is built around economic restructuring and technological advancement. He vows to fix the mess that Yoon’s administration created, solve increasing inequality, and advocate for more government transparency.
Role of Yoon’s supporters
Even after his ouster, Yoon Suk Yeol continues to have a robust support base among his right-wing constituents. As he returned to his personal residence, hundreds of die-hard supporters welcomed him back with cheers and tearful goodbyes. Many were visibly teary-eyed, waving him off in tears. Wearing a red “Make Korea Great Again” cap, a gift from one of his supporters, Yoon also fired up his base. This act obviously testifies to the continued hold of populism in South Korean politics. Yoon’s supporters still view him as a champion of their national identity and values, a phenomenon that mirrors wider global populist tendencies.
The impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol has dramatically transformed South Korea’s politics. With the nation inching closer to the pivotal presidential election on June 3, 2025, the incoming leader will have the challenge of rebuilding people’s trust and mending the political rift Yoon’s presidency left behind. The fate of the nation will depend on the skills the new leader will use in striking the right balance between democracy, governance, and national harmony in the coming years.
