South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol narrowly escaped impeachment this week,a stark contrast to the fate of former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun,who was recently arrested and detained by prosecutors.
Yoon faced an impeachment attempt by the opposition in the South Korean Parliament following a controversial military emergency declaration on Tuesday, December 3rd. The declaration was lifted in the early hours of Wednesday, december 4th, after parliamentarians voted to end the state of emergency.
On Saturday, December 7th, parliament convened to vote on Yoon’s impeachment. However, Yoon’s People’s power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote by staging a walkout of nearly all its members.
“Yoon,the main perpetrator behind the rebellion and military coup that destroyed South Korea’s constitutional order,should instantly resign or be impeached without delay,” said Lee Jae-myung,leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP).
“On December 14, our Democratic Party will impeach Yoon in the name of the people,” Lee continued.
To pass the impeachment motion, a two-thirds majority of parliamentary votes, or approximately 200 out of 300 members, was required. The Democratic Party and other smaller opposition parties hold a combined 192 seats. This meant that eight PPP members would have needed to support the motion. The PPP,which controls 108 seats,used the boycott tactic to prevent defections,as the vote was conducted anonymously.
Only one PPP member remained in the chamber during the walkout. While the voting process continued, the number of votes in favor of impeachment fell short of the required minimum.
As reported by the Yonhap News Agency, the lack of a quorum meant Yoon suk Yeol survived the impeachment attempt.
The opposition party has vowed to try again,with Lee Jae-myung stating that they will initiate another impeachment attempt on December 14th. He presented yoon with an ultimatum: resign or face impeachment.
In exchange for blocking the impeachment, the PPP claimed to have secured a promise from Yoon to resign.
“Even before the president steps down, we will continue to hold him accountable for his actions,” a PPP spokesperson stated.
The political landscape in South Korea remains tense, with the opposition determined to remove Yoon from office and the ruling party seeking to maintain its grip on power.
South Korea is grappling with a political crisis following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial declaration of martial law. While Yoon has apologized for the “anxiety and inconvenience” caused, he has refused to resign, leaving his fate in the hands of his party.
The situation has sparked heated debate, with opposition leaders condemning the martial law as unconstitutional and a potential “coup” against the democratic order. “For the prime minister and the ruling party to jointly exercise presidential authority, which was not given to them by anyone, without participating in the constitutional process to deal with unconstitutional martial law, is a clear violation of the constitution,” stated Woo Won-shik, a spokesperson for the National Assembly and a member of the opposition party.
“Presidential power does not belong to President yoon Suk Yeol personally. isn’t this another coup that destroys the constitutional order?” Woo added, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
In an attempt to quell the growing unrest, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), assured the public that prime Minister Han Duck-soo would not interfere in state affairs, including foreign policy, during Yoon’s absence.”This will minimize confusion for South korea and its people, resolve the political situation stably and restore liberal democracy,” Han asserted.
However, opposition figures like Lee, who, like Woo, represents an opposition party, remain unconvinced. They maintain that the martial law declaration was illegal and a direct violation of the constitution.
The political turmoil in South Korea has raised concerns both domestically and internationally, with many observers closely watching how the situation unfolds.
## South Korea on teh Brink: Impeachment Attempt Fails, Political Turmoil Remains
The political landscape in South Korea is highly charged after President Yoon Suk Yeol narrowly avoided impeachment this week. This comes amidst accusations of a constitutional crisis following Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law and escalating tensions between the ruling and opposition parties.
**An Interview with Dr. Jin-Soo Kim, Professor of Korean Politics at Seoul National University**
**Senior Editor:** Dr. Kim, thank you for joining us today. South Korea seems to be in a state of political turmoil. Can you help us understand the events leading up to the recent impeachment attempt against President Yoon?
**Dr. Kim:** Certainly. President Yoon’s decision to declare a military emergency on December 3rd sparked immediate controversy. The opposition accused him of overstepping his authority and potentially attempting a coup against the democratic order. They called for his resignation or impeachment, leading to a dramatic vote in parliament on December 7th.
**Senior Editor:** You mentioned the opposition’s reaction. Can you elaborate on their stance and the specific accusations levied against President Yoon?
**Dr. kim:** the Democratic Party, the main opposition group, vehemently condemned the emergency declaration as unconstitutional. They argued that Yoon’s actions violated the principles of civilian control over the military and threatened south Korea’s democracy. Opposition leader lee Jae-myung has directly accused Yoon of being the “main perpetrator” behind a “rebellion and military coup” and demanded his immediate resignation or impeachment.
**Senior Editor:** Despite the strong opposition,President Yoon managed to avoid impeachment. How did this come about?
**Dr. Kim:** The impeachment motion required a two-thirds majority in the parliament. While the opposition holds a significant number of seats, they needed at least eight members from Yoon’s ruling Peopel’s power Party (PPP) to defect to secure the required votes. The PPP strategically staged a walkout during the vote, preventing defections because the vote was conducted anonymously. This effectively stalled the impeachment effort, leaving Yoon in power for now.
**Senior Editor:** What are the implications of this near-impeachment for South Korean politics going forward?
**Dr. Kim:** The situation remains incredibly tense. While Yoon survived this specific impeachment attempt,the opposition has promised to continue their efforts,potentially launching another impeachment bid on December 14th. This ongoing conflict substantially weakens South Korea’s already fragile political climate and creates uncertainty about Yoon’s ability to effectively govern the country.
**Senior Editor:** Lastly, dose the opposition have a viable path forward in their attempt to remove Yoon from office?
**Dr. Kim:** that remains to be seen. The opposition will need to carefully strategize and gather more support, potentially enticing PPP members to break ranks, if they wont to succeed in their impeachment bid. Additionally, public opinion will play a crucial role. If demonstrated support for Yoon dwindles further, it might create more pressure for him to resign or for the PPP to abandon him.
**Senior Editor:** dr. Kim, thank you for providing such valuable insights into this complex and evolving situation.
**Dr. Kim:** My pleasure. I hope I’ve shed some light on this crucial moment in South Korean politics.
