South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said he will “not give up” after lawmakers passed an impeachment motion against him on Dec. 14. He vowed to “do my utmost for the nation until the very end” even as his presidency faces an uncertain future.
In an unannounced national address released around 6:08 p.m., Yoon struck a defiant tone, recalling the moment he entered politics in 2021. “Watching the impeachment motion being passed brought me back to June 29, 2021, the day I first announced my entry into politics,” he said in the address recorded at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul.
“At the time, the nation’s liberal democracy and rule of law were in shambles, and the despair of small business owners and the frustration of young people had gripped the entire country,” he said. “It was with that fervent public aspiration that I stepped into politics.”
Yoon, a former prosecutor general, described his presidency as a relentless effort to rebuild the country. “Since then, I have not rested for a moment, dedicating all my energy to my work,” he said. “When I listened to the people’s hardships and managed to address their concerns, it brought me unparalleled happiness.”
He highlighted that during his presidency, “Exports rebounded, bringing vitality back to the economy” and that his administration “restored the nuclear sector.” He added, “With the title of South Korea’s No. 1 Salesperson, I traveled the globe and delivered results.”
“My journey has come to a temporary halt, and I am frustrated by the thought that all my efforts might have been in vain,” he said. “Though I must pause for now, the journey toward the future that I have walked alongside the people for the past two and a half years must never come to a stop.”
Yoon also pledged, “I will carry with me all the criticism, encouragement, and support directed at me, and I will do my utmost for the nation until the very last moment.”
Yoon urged politicians to “move away from politics of recklessness and confrontation” and instead focus on improving political culture and systems to foster “deliberation and consideration.”
Concluding his remarks, Yoon expressed faith in South Korea’s resilience. “I believe in the strength of our people,” he said. “Let us all unite for the liberal democracy and prosperity of the Republic of Korea.”
The Korean National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against Yoon earlier that day, 11 days after the president abruptly declared emergency martial law on Dec. 3, plunging the nation into political turmoil. The impeachment motion was passed with 204 votes in favor, including at least 12 lawmakers from Yoon’s ruling People Power Party.
