TAIPEI, Taiwan – South Korea’s National Assembly voted on Saturday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed bid to impose martial law, to the delight of a huge crowd of anti-Yoon protesters outside the legislature.
The impeachment motion will now be sent to the Constitutional Court, which will determine whether to uphold the parliamentary vote and remove Yoon from office or to reinstate him.
Yoon declared martial law on the night of Dec. 3 to counter “threats from North Korea” and “anti-state activities” by the domestic political opposition. However, the National Assembly rejected the decree nearly three hours later as protesters gathered outside, prompting Yoon to lift the order.
The impeachment motion against Yoon passed with a vote of 204 in favor and 85 against, with three abstentions and eight invalid ballots, as all 300 lawmakers cast their votes.
Once the impeachment resolution is delivered to Yoon’s office, he will be suspended from his duties, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will assume the role of acting president.
“I will do my utmost to ensure the stable operation of the government operation,” said Han after the impeachment motion was passed.
A crowd of anti-Yoon protesters that media estimated at 200,000-strong welcomed the vote in favor of impeachment. Yoon’s conservative supporters held a smaller protest in another part of Seoul.
An initial bid to vote to impeach Yoon failed last week when most ruling party lawmakers boycotted the vote.
The second impeachment motion was introduced on Thursday by the main opposition Democratic Party and five other minor opposition parties, accusing Yoon of violating the Constitution and other laws by declaring martial law.
If the impeachment is upheld, Yoon will become the second president in South Korea’s history to be removed from office, following former President Park Geun-hye’s ouster in 2017 over corruption.
If the court rules to oust him, an election will be held for a new president.
RELATED STORIES
North Korea calls South’s martial law declaration ‘shocking’ in first reaction
South Korean opposition files impeachment motion against Yoon
South Korea’s president lifts martial law hours after declaring it
‘Protect the nation’
On Thursday, Yoon defended his botched martial law declaration as an act of governance.
In a televised address, Yoon said he used his presidential power to declare martial law “to protect the nation and normalize state affairs” against the opposition that paralyzed the government, calling it a “highly calibrated political judgment.”
“The National Assembly, dominated by the large opposition party, has become a monster that destroys the Constitutional order of free democracy,” Yoon asserted.
The main opposition Democratic Party controls 171 seats in the 300-member parliament.
In particular, Yoon said that opposition parties blocked a revision to anti-espionage laws despite two separate instances in which Chinese nationals filmed South Korean military installations and the National Intelligence Service.
He also said the opposition parties were “advocating” to lift sanctions against North Korea.
In response, China’s foreign ministry said Thursday it was “deeply surprised and dissatisfied.”
“We are deeply surprised and dissatisfied with the remarks made by the South Korean side,” Mao Ning, Beijing foreign ministry’s spokesperson, said during a regular press briefing.
“We firmly oppose the South Korean side linking its internal issues with factors related to China, making up false charges of so-called Chinese spies and disgracing normal economic and trade cooperation,” said Mao, adding that a verdict has not been reached yet in the mentioned cases and that China is maintaining related communication with South Korea.
She also urged South Korea to guarantee the safety and legal rights of the individuals involved.
Edited by RFA Staff.
We are : Investigative Journalism Reportika
Investigative Reports
Daily Reports
Interviews
Surveys Reportika
