South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing serious trouble after being charged with insurrection for trying to impose martial law in December.

This marks the first time a sitting president in South Korea has been accused of a crime, sparking a historic political crisis, as reported by BBC.

Yoon’s attempt to take full control by using the military came during a tough time for his government. He was battling corruption scandals, struggling with a deadlocked budget, and losing public trust.

On December 3, in a shocking televised announcement, Yoon claimed that martial law was needed to protect the country from “anti-state” groups allegedly linked to North Korea.

However, opposition lawmakers and even some from his own party quickly united to block the order. According to BBC, 190 lawmakers voted unanimously to cancel Yoon’s martial law declaration within hours.

The situation became chaotic when armed soldiers entered parliament, smashing windows, as thousands of citizens gathered outside to stop them. BBC reports that Yoon was impeached on December 14 and suspended from his presidential duties, leading to South Korea’s worst political crisis in decades. The incident has deeply divided the nation, with some of Yoon’s hardline supporters demanding his release and return to power, while others push for justice.

Yoon is now set to stand trial alongside military leaders accused of helping him plan this failed power grab. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is deciding whether to permanently remove him from office or reinstate him as president. If removed, South Korea will hold a new presidential election within 60 days.

This crisis has shaken South Korea’s political system like never before. As BBC highlights, it raises big questions about how far a leader can go to maintain power and what it takes to protect democracy during such challenging times.

Credit : BBC

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr53r1d0jz4o

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