South Korean lawmakers are set to vote on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol due to his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law, marking a tense second parliamentary confrontation.
Just one week after the initial impeachment attempt over the martial law issues faltered, the National Assembly plans to hold the vote around 4 PM local time (7 AM Irish time) to determine if he should be impeached for “insurrectionary acts that threaten the constitutional order”.
President Yoon has pledged to resist “until the very last minute” and has reiterated his unproven assertions that the opposition is collaborating with the nation’s communist adversaries.
Thousands of citizens in South Korea have taken to the streets of Seoul, demanding President Yoon’s resignation and imprisonment after his brief martial law announcement led to military presence in parliament last week.
Organizers have vowed to provide food and banners to boost the morale of demonstrators braving the chilly December weather.
K-pop artist Yuri, from the band Girl’s Generation, whose song “Into the New World” has emerged as a protest anthem, announced that she prepaid for meals for fans attending the protest.
“Stay safe and take care of your health!” she urged on a fan chat platform.
‘History will remember’
For the impeachment motion to pass, 200 votes are necessary, which means opposition lawmakers must persuade eight members of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party (PPP) to defect.
Seven lawmakers from the ruling party have committed to supporting the impeachment, leaving the ultimate outcome uncertain.
Opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung has urged PPP lawmakers to stand with the “people crying out in the freezing streets”.
“Please join us in backing the impeachment vote tomorrow,” he implored. “History will remember and document your decision.”
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol
In last week’s vote, two PPP lawmakers backed the motion. Opposition lawmaker Kim Min-seok expressed that he was “99%” confident the impeachment would succeed.
If approved, Mr. Yoon would face suspension while South Korea’s Constitutional Court reviews the case.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would assume the role of interim president. The court would then have 180 days to make a ruling regarding Mr. Yoon’s future.
If the court endorses his removal, Yoon would become only the second president in South Korean history to be successfully impeached.
However, there is also a precedent for the court to block impeachment; for instance, in 2004, then-president Roh Moo-hyun was ousted by parliament for alleged election law violations and incompetence, but was later reinstated by the Constitutional Court.
Moreover, the court currently comprises only six judges, necessitating a unanimous decision for any ruling.
Should the impeachment vote fail, Yoon could still face “legal responsibility” for the martial law attempt, according to Kim Hyun-jung, a researcher at the Korea University Institute of Law, who spoke to AFP.
“This is undeniably an act of insurrection,” she stated.
“Even if the impeachment motion does not succeed, the president’s legal accountability under the Criminal Code… cannot be evaded.”
‘So angry’
Mr. Yoon has remained defiant and unrepentant as the consequences of his ill-fated martial law declaration intensify and investigations into his inner circle expand.
Prosecutors have revealed that a military commander who oversaw the Capital Defence Command has been arrested.
For further reading: South Korea’s president retreats from martial law efforts after parliamentary rejection; South Korea’s President Yoon survives impeachment attempt.
Seoul Central District Court has also issued arrest warrants for the national police chief and the head of the city police, citing concerns over “evidence destruction”.
President Yoon’s approval ratings, which have never been robust, have plummeted to 11%, as reported by a recent Gallup Korea poll.
The same survey indicated that 75% of respondents now favor his impeachment.
Protesters urging his ouster have represented a diverse swath of South Korean society, from K-pop enthusiasts wielding glowsticks to retirees and blue-collar workers.
“Impeachment is imperative, and we must continue to fight tirelessly,” stated Kim Sung-tae, a 52-year-old employee at a car parts manufacturer, to AFP.
“We’re advocating for the restoration of democracy,” commented teacher Kim Hwan-ii. “I’m so angry that we all have to suffer the consequences of electing this president.”
