South Korean Ruling Party Supports Leader During Impeachment Vote Following Declaration of Martial Law
The ruling People Power Party of South Korea has announced its opposition to the impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his abrupt and later rescinded declaration of martial law, according to reports from the Yonhap news agency.
In the early hours, South Korean opposition politicians were ready to formally present a motion to impeach Mr. Yoon due to the controversial decision, which caused division among his ministers and triggered six hours of political turmoil in the country.
The opposition needs approximately eight members from the ruling party to defect and support their cause. If the motion is successfully introduced in parliament, a vote could take place as soon as Friday.
If the impeachment motion is approved and upheld by the constitutional court, Mr. Yoon would become the second South Korean president to be impeached, following the widespread candlelit protests that led to the removal of former president Park Geun-hye in 2017 due to an influence-peddling scandal.
After physically confronting security personnel to enter parliament and vote against the martial law overnight, the opposition has formally submitted an impeachment motion against him.
People gather outside the National Assembly
The impeachment motion claims that Mr. Yoon “gravely and extensively violated the constitution and the law” and accuses him of imposing martial law “with the unconstitutional and illegal intent to evade imminent investigations… into alleged illegal acts involving himself and his family.”
The vote on the motion could occur in the early hours of Friday, and Mr. Yoon’s chances appear grim.
The opposition holds a significant majority in the 300-member parliament and needs only a few defections from the president’s party to achieve the two-thirds majority required to pass the motion.
The main opposition party, the Democratic Party, has also filed a complaint of “insurrection” against the president, some of his ministers, and high-ranking military and police officials, an accusation that carries severe penalties including life imprisonment or even death.
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Even the leader of Mr. Yoon’s own ruling party described the situation as “tragic” and called for accountability among those involved.
In a demonstration of public dissent against the president, thousands gathered outside his office in central Seoul after a rally at Gwanghwamun Square, demanding Mr. Yoon’s resignation.
Seoul’s stock exchange fell by more than 1%, reflecting the market volatility instigated by the political unrest.
In his late-night address announcing martial law, Mr. Yoon referenced threats from North Korea and “anti-state forces.”
In response, over 280 troops arrived at parliament, some transported by helicopter, to secure the area.
However, 190 lawmakers defied armed soldiers to force their entry into parliament to vote against the martial law declaration.
The constitution stipulates that martial law must be lifted when a parliamentary majority demands it, compelling Mr. Yoon to retract his declaration and disband the military presence in another televised statement just six hours later.
South Korean protesters hold placards yesterday that read ‘arrest the treasonous criminal Yoon Suk Yeol!’
Senior aides in Mr. Yoon’s administration have collectively offered their resignations, including the defence minister, who stated he took “full responsibility for the confusion and concern” surrounding the martial law declaration.
By the end of the day, Mr. Yoon had yet to appear publicly.
The revocation of martial law sparked celebrations among protesters outside parliament who had endured freezing nights to keep vigil against Mr. Yoon’s orders.
As night descended in Seoul, demonstrators gathered once more, intensifying their calls for Mr. Yoon’s resignation.
Mr. Yoon defended the need for martial law to “protect a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements threatening people’s freedom and happiness.”
He did not elaborate on the threats from the North, although South Korea remains technically in a state of war with nuclear-armed Pyongyang.
The president labeled the Democratic Party as “anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime.”
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol
In recent weeks, Mr. Yoon and his People Power Party have faced significant conflict with the opposition regarding next year’s budget.
His approval rating has plummeted to 19%, according to the latest Gallup poll, amid public frustration over economic conditions and controversies surrounding his wife, Kim Keon Hee.
Mr. Yoon’s unexpected actions took many allies by surprise, with the United States, which has nearly 30,000 troops stationed in South Korea for defense against the North, expressing relief at his swift reversal.
China, South Korea’s neighbor, refrained from commenting on what it referred to as Seoul’s “internal affairs,” while urging the South Korean government to ensure the safety of its citizens.
