On Tuesday, South Korean lawmakers began the process to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after he briefly declared martial law and then quickly withdrew that order hours later.

Yoon argued that the martial law was essential to safeguard the nation against “North Korea’s communist forces” and to “root out anti-state elements.” However, this declaration coincided with ongoing disputes with opposition lawmakers regarding budget proposals and was further complicated by various scandals related to corruption and influence-peddling.

The announcement of martial law was unexpected for both South Korea’s political landscape and U.S. officials. Yoon reversed the decision only after a significant coalition in the National Assembly—South Korea’s legislative body—voted to reject it and amid fears of widespread protests brewing across the country.

On Wednesday, lawmakers submitted a motion for a vote regarding Yoon’s removal, aiming for the decision to be made as soon as Friday or Saturday. Achieving this will require a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat National Assembly.

The main opposition group, the Democratic Party, along with its allies, holds at least 191 seats. Consequently, some members of Yoon’s ruling People Power Party will need to be convinced to join the impeachment effort for it to succeed.

Yoon, a conservative leader known for his hardline stance on North Korea, faces personal controversies, including allegations that his wife improperly accepted a designer handbag as a political gift. He has been deeply unpopular since narrowly winning the presidency in 2022, particularly as the opposition Democratic Party gained a significant majority in the parliamentary elections last April, leaving him with limited capacity to advance his legislative goals.

As a crucial military and economic ally to the U.S., South Korea has hosted a significant American military presence since the Korean War concluded in 1953. After enduring years of dictatorship and military rule, the nation transitioned into a democratic system in the late 1980s.

Experts suggest that, while Yoon’s actions have introduced political instability in a nation traditionally seen as a secure democracy in the region, it is unlikely to disrupt its security or economic relations with the United States.

“South Koreans responded in the way they have for decades. They rallied against Yoon’s martial law, advocating for the democracy that their peers, children, parents, relatives, friends, and neighbors fought and sacrificed for,” remarked Ji-Yeon Yuh, a history professor at Northwestern University, in an email.

“They refuse to revert to those dark times.”