Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Yoon Suk Yeol's meteoric rise, dramatic fall
Now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol bows his head while answering questions from reporters during a press conference at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, May 9, 2024. Newsis
By Baek Byung-yeul
Star prosecutor-turned-politician ends up disgraced
Following the Constitutional Court’s ruling, Friday, Yoon Suk Yeol's tumultuous presidency came to an abrupt end, marking only the second time in the nation’s history that a president has been removed from office midway through their term.
His downfall was triggered due to his shocking Dec. 3 martial law declaration, which eventually led to his impeachment and removal from office, sealing the fate of a leader who rose to power promising to uphold the principles of the law.
Now stripped of his presidential authority and facing the possibility of criminal charges, including insurrection, Yoon leaves behind a complicated legacy, having transitioned from a prominent prosecutor to a controversial president, ultimately departing under a cloud due to the constitutional crisis he himself caused.
From being seen as an upright prosecutor to becoming a deposed president as a consequence of his out-of-the-blue martial law declaration, Yoon's dramatic rise and fall serves as a cautionary chapter in Korea's political and constitutional history.
Born in 1960, Yoon’s path to prominence was unconventional. After graduating from Seoul National University's College of Law on his ninth attempt, he began his prosecutorial career relatively late, in 1994 at age 34.
He quickly built a reputation as a tenacious and unyielding prosecutor, unafraid to investigate powerful figures. His national profile surged in 2013 during a parliamentary audit concerning the National Intelligence Service's alleged interference in the 2012 presidential election.
Facing pressure regarding his investigation, Yoon famously declared, "I am not loyal to any person," cementing his image as an independent figure. This stance, however, led to his temporary removal from the case and subsequent sidelining to less prominent positions.
Yoon Suk Yeol, then-head of special counsel Park Young-soo’s investigation team, arrives at Park’s office in Seoul, Jan. 24, 2017, to investigate a massive corruption scandal involving then-President Park Geun-hye. Newsis
Swift ascent to power
Yoon returned to the spotlight in late 2016 as a key figure in the special counsel's team investigating the corruption scandal surrounding then-President Park Geun-hye. His leadership in the probe, which focused on high-level officials and figures like Samsung's leader Lee Jae-yong, earned him public acclaim and contributed to Park's eventual impeachment and removal.
Recognizing his role, the succeeding Moon Jae-in administration appointed Yoon as chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in 2017 and elevated him to prosecutor general in July 2019.
However, Yoon's relationship with the Moon administration deteriorated, due primarily to investigations into Cho Kuk, Moon's close ally who served briefly as justice minister. The government's attempts to reform the prosecutors' office and the escalating conflict over the prosecution's investigative powers culminated in unprecedented disciplinary action against the prosecutor general, which led to Yoon's resignation in March 2021, about four months before the end of his term.
His confrontations with the liberal government, however, struck a chord with conservative voters. Yoon quickly pivoted to politics, joining the then-main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and declaring his presidential bid in June 2021.
Capitalizing on the public's discontent with the Moon administration over issues like soaring housing prices and corruption scandals, Yoon, despite being a political novice, positioned himself as the champion for "fairness and common sense." In a fiercely contested election in March 2022, he narrowly defeated Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung by 0.73 of a percentage point.
Now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, walks with then President Moon Jae-in after being appointed as prosecutor general in Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul, July 25, 2019. Newsis
Plagued by challenges
Yoon's presidency began with bold and controversial moves, including relocating the presidential office from Jongno District to the defense ministry compound in Yongsan District. His administration sought to reverse key policies of his predecessor, focusing on areas like revitalizing the nuclear energy sector and changing labor regulations and fiscal policy, while prioritizing the restoration of alliances with the United States and Japan, culminating in a strengthened trilateral cooperation framework.
However, his tenure was quickly marred by crises and persistent controversies. The Itaewon crowd crush in October 2022, which resulted in 159 deaths, and the controversy surrounding the investigation into a marine’s death in July 2023, severely damaged the public's trust in him. Allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, including her acceptance of a luxury bag and stock manipulation accusations, further eroded support as well.
Yoon's approval ratings plummeted, often hovering in the 20 to 30 percent range. His administration struggled to gain legislative traction, particularly after the ruling party's decisive defeat in the April 2024 general elections, which gave the opposition a majority. This political gridlock effectively stalled Yoon's reform agenda concerning labor, education, pensions and the nation's low birthrate. Also, his lack of flexibility and unwillingness to engage with the opposition exacerbated matters further.
Now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol bows in apology to the nation for causing confusion with his martial law declaration at the presidential office in Seoul, Dec. 7, 2024. Courtesy of presidential office
Martial law declaration to undignified end
Facing dwindling political power and legislative paralysis, Yoon took the drastic and unforeseen step of declaring martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, citing the need to defend the nation from "pro-North Korean forces" undermining the state. The move, the first such declaration since 1979, sent shockwaves both nationally and internationally.
The declaration, however, was swiftly lifted by an emergency session of the National Assembly just hours later. Eleven days after the martial law attempt, on Dec. 14, the Assembly passed a motion to impeach Yoon on insurrection charges.
During the subsequent Constitutional Court review, Yoon defended his actions and expressed regret, arguing the martial law declaration was a desperate appeal to the public against the “tyranny” of the opposition-controlled Assembly.
The court's decision to uphold the impeachment removed Yoon from power immediately. As an ousted president, he loses nearly all post-presidential benefits, retaining only basic security protection for a limited period.
Now a private citizen, Yoon faces the stark reality of criminal prosecution. His presidential immunity is now gone, leaving him vulnerable to ongoing investigations, particularly concerning the martial law fiasco and possibly other charges stemming from his time before and during his presidency.