Political and social impact of Yoon's Impeachment on S. Korean society

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon.

The Constitutional Court’s unanimous decision to remove President Yoon Suk-yeol from office marked a significant turning point in South Korea’s political landscape.

While the ruling ended a four-month-long impeachment process, it also set the stage for new questions about national unity, democratic resilience, and the future of political leadership.

Public reaction over the weekend was active but largely restrained, with both pro-and anti-impeachment rallies taking place without major unrest.

At the same time, increased political engagement among younger generations and rising concerns over ideological polarization suggest deeper shifts underway in Korean society.

To better understand the significance of this moment—and what it may mean moving forward—we speak with two guests in the studio with us.

To my is Hans Schattle, Professor of Political Science at Yonsei University. Welcome Professor.

And to my is Suh Chan-seok, Associate Professor of Sociology at Chung-Ang University. Thank you for joining us.

1. (Schattle) So, Professor Schattle, last Friday, the Constitutional Court unanimously ruled to remove former President Yoon from office. How do you read into the political and societal significance of this decision?

2. (SUH) Now to Prof. Suh, even after the decision had been announced, pro-and anti-impeachment rallies were held across Seoul over the weekend. Thankfully, the level of chaos was not as extreme as expected. What do you think are the reasons behind this?

3. (Schattle) So it's been said that it took 123 days for Yoon to be removed since the martial law declaration on December 3rd. Based on the roughly four-month-long impeachment process and the public protests, Prof. Schattle, what do you think this incident signifies for South Korean democracy?

4. (SUH) Notably, rallies for and against Yoon’s impeachment showed a sharp increase in political participation from people in their 20s and 30s. This generation was once dubbed “politically indifferent.” Prof. Suh, how could the surge in political engagement among younger people be analyzed?

5. (Schattle) Prof. Schattle, what kind of shift in the political landscape do you foresee from this increased participation among younger generations?

6. (Schattle) Following the impeachment, national reconciliation has become the most pressing issue. There are growing concerns that the ideological divide between progressives and conservatives has reached a peak through this impeachment. How do you assess the current situation, Prof. Schattle?

7. (SUH) Prof. Suh, some say that this political polarization is triggering other forms of social conflict. Which areas should we be concerned about?

8. (SUH) According to Statistics Korea’s 2024 Social Indicators of Korea released last month, the country is already facing severe societal conflict across categories like political ideology, gender, and generation. Prof.Suh, why do you think South Korea had been seeing these divisions even before the impeachment ruling?

9. (Schattle) The impeachment has now brought South Korea into an early presidential election phase. There are concerns that the coming election might be just as divisive as the impeachment process itself. Prof. Schattle, what steps should political leaders take to reduce polarization during this time?

10. (SUH) Some foreign media outlets have warned that, in the short term, South Korean society may become even more polarized following the impeachment. Prof. Suh, given the country’s heightened political divisions, what efforts are needed to achieve social cohesion?