List of South Korean Presidents Involved in Scandals, Including Yoon Suk Yeol Who Was Impeached

Kapanlagi.com - On Saturday, December 14, 2024, President Yoon Suk Yeol was officially suspended after the parliament took the bold step of approving his impeachment with a majority vote of 204-85. This decision came after Yoon issued a military emergency decree that lasted only six hours, but was enough to shake public confidence.

This impeachment reflects a deepening crisis of trust in Yoon's leadership. A survey revealed that more than 70% of South Koreans supported this move, while Yoon's approval rating plummeted to just 11%, the lowest since he took office in 2022. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik emphasized that this decision was an effort to protect the country's democracy.

However, Yoon Suk Yeol is not the first president to face a scandal-ridden end to their administration in South Korea. The country has a long history of presidents entangled in legal violations, corruption, and political tragedies. Let's take a look at the chronology of Yoon Suk Yeol's journey and a list of other leaders who have faced a similar fate, summarized by Kapanlagi.com from various sources, Monday (12/16).

1. Yoon Suk Yeol: From Military Emergency to Impeachment

On December 3, 2024, Yoon Suk Yeol issued a military emergency decree that triggered the worst political turmoil in his leadership history.

Under the pretext of facing threats from North Korea, this controversial step invited a wave of sharp criticism from various circles.

Yoon accused the opposition of colluding with "anti-state forces" without providing clear evidence, but that did not stop hundreds of thousands of citizens from flooding the streets to demand impeachment, reflecting overflowing dissatisfaction.

Only six hours after it was issued, the decree was overturned by a swift-moving parliament, and on December 14, the official impeachment was passed, marking an important moment in the country's political dynamics.

2. President Park Geun-hye: The Corruption Scandal that Shook South Korea

Park Geun-hye, the first female president of South Korea, faced a tragic fate when she was impeached in December 2016 due to a corruption scandal that shook the nation.

The Constitutional Court upheld the decision in March 2017, leading Park behind bars after it was proven that she received bribes from business giants like Samsung, as well as abused her power by leaking confidential documents and ousting opposing officials.

Although she was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2021, she received amnesty at the end of the same year. Now, with Yoon Suk Yeol, the former prosecutor who led the investigation into Park's case, facing impeachment threats, the political dynamics in South Korea have become increasingly interesting to observe, depicting a winding and surprising journey.

3. Lee Myung-bak and Roh Moo-hyun: From Corruption to Suicide Tragedy

Lee Myung-bak, who led South Korea from 2008 to 2013, also tasted the bitterness of a corruption scandal when he was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2018 for receiving bribes from the conglomerate giant, Samsung.

However, an unexpected turn came in 2022 when President Yoon Suk Yeol granted him amnesty, changing his fate.

On the other hand, the tragic story of former President Roh Moo-hyun, who served from 2003 to 2008, shook the nation when he chose to end his life in May 2009 after being embroiled in a bribery investigation.

These events cast a dark shadow that reminds us of the immense political pressure in South Korea.

4. Military Presidents: Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo

Two military presidents, Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, ended their journeys with controversies that shook history.

Chun, nicknamed "The Butcher of Gwangju," had to face a death sentence due to his brutal actions in suppressing the uprising in Gwangju in 1980, although his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

On the other hand, Roh Tae-woo, who succeeded Chun in the presidency, also became embroiled in issues and was sentenced to 17 years in prison for his involvement in the military coup and corruption scandal.

However, both eventually received amnesty after serving relatively short prison sentences, marking an end filled with questions in their era of governance.

5. A Long History of Impeachment in South Korea

Since the era of Syngman Rhee, the first president of South Korea, the political stage of this ginseng country has never been free from turmoil.

Rhee was forced to flee to Hawaii after being impeached due to an election scandal in 1960, while a dark tragedy befell Park Chung-hee, the father of Park Geun-hye, who was killed by his own intelligence chief in 1979.

The chaos paved the way for a military coup by Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo.

With seven presidents entangled in scandals or facing punishment, the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol adds a new chapter to the long tale of complex political dynamics in South Korea.

6. What is the main reason for the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol?

The impeachment of Yoon arose after he issued a controversial military emergency decree, which lasted only six hours; this move has shaken the political landscape and triggered unexpected turmoil.

7. Will Yoon Suk Yeol be permanently dismissed?

The Constitutional Court is now at a crucial crossroads, with a 180-day timeframe set to determine Yoon's fate—whether he will be removed from office or restored to his previous position.

8. What is the history of presidential impeachment in South Korea?

Since the leadership era of Syngman Rhee to Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea has witnessed a tumultuous political journey, where seven presidents have had to face impeachment, resignation, or become embroiled in major scandals that have shaken the nation.

(kpl/rmt)