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윤석열 파면

Published: 2025-04-04 05:14:43 5 min read
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The Impeachment Debate: A Critical Examination of the Push to Oust Yoon Suk-yeol Since taking office in May 2022, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has faced mounting political turmoil.

A former prosecutor with no prior legislative experience, Yoon’s leadership has been marred by controversies, including allegations of authoritarian tendencies, economic mismanagement, and a deepening partisan divide.

Opposition parties, led by the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), have repeatedly called for his impeachment, citing abuses of power, ethical lapses, and policy failures.

But is this a legitimate constitutional remedy, or a politically motivated maneuver? Thesis Statement While Yoon Suk-yeol’s administration has been plagued by scandals and declining approval ratings, the push for his impeachment reflects broader political polarization rather than clear-cut constitutional violations.

A critical analysis reveals that impeachment may be an overreach without sufficient legal grounds, risking further destabilization in South Korea’s already fractious democracy.

Evidence and Case for Impeachment Proponents of impeachment argue that Yoon has violated constitutional norms through: 1.

Prosecutorial Overreach & Abuse of Power - Yoon, a former prosecutor-general, has been accused of weaponizing investigations against political opponents, including DPK leader Lee Jae-myung.

Critics allege selective prosecutions reminiscent of past authoritarian regimes (Kim, 2023).

- The controversial dismissal of Interior Minister Lee Sang-min over the 2022 Halloween crowd crush was seen as scapegoating rather than accountability (Korea Herald, 2023).

2.

Economic Mismanagement - Inflation and housing crises have worsened under Yoon, with his approval rating dropping to 30% (Gallup Korea, 2023).

- Labor reforms and tax policies favoring corporations have sparked protests, with unions accusing Yoon of ignoring working-class struggles (Jung, 2023).

3.

Diplomatic Blunders - Yoon’s alignment with Japan despite unresolved historical grievances and perceived subservience to U.

S.

interests have alienated voters (Sohn, 2023).

- A leaked diplomatic memo suggested Yoon disparaged U.

S.

lawmakers, straining relations (Chosun Ilbo, 2023).

Counterarguments: Is Impeachment Justified? Legal scholars caution that impeachment requires grave violations of the Constitution, a high bar not yet met: - Lack of Criminal Evidence: Unlike Park Geun-hye (impeached in 2017 for bribery), no smoking gun links Yoon to corruption (Lee, 2023).

- Political Motivations: The DPK’s push coincides with its own scandals, including Lee Jae-myung’s indictment, suggesting a diversion tactic (Korea Times, 2023).

- Institutional Damage: Frequent impeachments could normalize political vendettas, eroding democratic stability (Shin, 2022).

International Perspectives Comparative studies show impeachment rarely succeeds without bipartisan consensus (Linz, 1994).

In Brazil and the U.

'윤석열 퇴진' 촛불 집회...'이재명 구속' 보수 집회도 / YTN - YouTube

S., attempts against Dilma Rousseff and Donald Trump deepened divisions.

South Korea risks a similar fate.

Conclusion: Polarization Over Principle The Yoon impeachment debate underscores South Korea’s fragile democracy.

While his governance warrants scrutiny, impeachment without incontrovertible evidence may exacerbate polarization.

Instead, electoral accountability in 2024 offers a constitutional alternative.

The broader lesson? Impeachment is a judicial safeguard not a political weapon.

- Kim, H.

(2023).

Seoul Press.

- Gallup Korea.

(2023).

Presidential Approval Ratings.

- Linz, J.

(1994).

Johns Hopkins UP.

- Korea Herald.

(2023).

Lee Sang-min’s Dismissal: Accountability or Politics?.