A Declaration by Political Scientists of South Korea
Call for an Immediate Reintroduction and the Passage of the Impeachment Bill to Restore the Constitutional Order
The emergency martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3rd, 2024, is, without a doubt, an insurrection. The unconstitutional and anti-democratic emergency martial law renders irrelevant the differences in the political parties we support, our political values, or our beliefs. Yoon threatened the fundamental rights of citizens with the martial law declaration that did not meet the constitutional requirements, and attempted to dissolve the National Assembly, which even emergency martial law does not allow. Fortunately, Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempted insurrection was thwarted thanks to the collective efforts of vigilant citizens, some conscientious military service members and police officers, and some members of the National Assembly. However, Yoon Suk Yeol must be prosecuted for his actions—the nation yearns for accountability.
There is no other way but impeachment. Those who prioritize protecting the president’s spouse over safeguarding the country and its people are now attempting to deceive the public with a claim of “orderly exit.” However, Yoon is a flagrant, active instigator of the insurrection, a crime which even the sitting president—who is typically immune from criminal prosecution—cannot escape. Having an unqualified person in the president’s office only brings misfortune to the country and its people, even if he retreats to the back room. In a presidential system, what constitutional authority allows the Prime Minister and ruling party to lead state affairs? Even if all the existing parties tried to form a new cabinet in unison, who would accept a letter of appointment with the name of an insurgency mastermind on it? The president's retreat to a background role is merely a deception. Having someone other than the president conduct presidential duties is illegal and is a manipulation of state affairs. A shortened term or a promise of resignation in a few months are precarious solutions, given that the nation will continue to be in the hands of an unqualified individual. Not even a few days or weeks is acceptable. We have already seen that Yoon Suk Yeol is capable of doing anything for himself and his wife. What possible reason is there to believe that Yoon would keep his promises?
Impeachment is not a “suspension of constitutional order,” as the ruling party argues, but rather its restoration. Presidential impeachment is a device to rectify the state when the president, tasked to defend the country, the constitution, and the prosperity of the people, instead betrays the trust of the people. It is the act of committing an insurrection yet remaining in the presidential office that truly amounts to a suspension of constitutional order and makes a mockery of the country and its people. The ruling party, the People Power Party, cites possible social instability as grounds for refusing the impeachment, but this is nothing more than a flimsy excuse to put the party’s and their personal interests over democracy and the protection of the constitution. Any lawmaker who denies the legitimacy of or obstructs the impeachment is nothing but an obstacle to the restoration of the constitution.
In our classrooms, we will teach about the anti-democratic behavior of Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling party lawmakers who boycotted and invalidated the impeachment vote. We will warn our students that tolerating such behavior equates to opening the door to dictatorship, and we will urge that politicians who engage in anti-democratic behavior be held accountable through elections. We will teach our students not to be deceived by false supporters of democracy again, because true democracy recognizes and defends the freedoms and rights of even those who disagree with them. Furthermore, we will educate aspiring politicians not to follow in the footsteps of these anti-democratic politicians, but to become politicians who defend the constitution and democracy.
We demand the following:
December 8th, 2024
573 political scientists