The leader of South Korea’s ruling People Power Party (PPP), Han Dong-hoon, announced his resignation on December 16, marking a dramatic turn in the country’s political landscape following the National Assembly’s vote to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. Han’s decision comes in the wake of intense internal strife within the party, exacerbated by the impeachment motion passed on December 14, which saw 204 lawmakers vote in favour and 85 against, as reported by Yonhap.

Han, who had previously expressed support for Yoon’s "orderly exit" after the botched martial law imposition on December 3, now finds himself at the centre of a storm. Despite initially standing firm in his position, Han’s resignation was precipitated by mounting pressure from within the PPP, with all five members of its Supreme Council, including two closely aligned with Han, signalling their intent to step down. This collapse of the party’s leadership structure left Han with little choice but to relinquish his role.

The impeachment of President Yoon stemmed from his controversial handling of the martial law decree, which some argued was an overreach of executive power. Han, speaking at a press conference, apologised for the chaos caused by the martial law debacle but remained resolute in his belief that it was crucial to stand against any actions that could undermine the country’s conservative values. He stressed that while the martial law declaration was flawed, it did not justify the opposition’s actions, particularly those of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who is still facing legal battles.

Han’s resignation marks a significant shift in the political dynamics of the PPP, once considered a bastion of conservative values and a close ally of President Yoon. His departure opens the door for newly elected floor leader, Kweon Seong-dong, to step in as acting head of the party and appoint an emergency leadership committee. The fallout from this political crisis could reshape South Korea's political landscape as the PPP seeks to regain its footing.