- विज्ञापन -
Seoul: The National Assembly of South Korea is scheduled to vote on Saturday regarding an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his recent controversial attempt to impose martial law, which has sparked political upheaval in the country.
The vote will take place during a plenary session at 5 p.m., but it is uncertain whether the motion, initiated by opposition lawmakers, will secure the two-thirds majority needed for approval. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and five smaller opposition parties have put forth the motion, claiming that Yoon’s declaration of martial law violated the Constitution and other laws.
The opposition holds 192 of the 300 seats in the National Assembly, meaning they would need at least eight members from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to support the motion for it to succeed. However, the PPP has stated that it will maintain its stance against the impeachment motion. PPP leader Han Dong-hoon remarked that Yoon’s resignation has become unavoidable, indicating that the President can no longer effectively carry out his duties.
In a nationally broadcast address earlier on Saturday, Yoon apologized for the public distress caused by his failed martial law attempt and promised not to pursue such actions again. He also indicated that he would leave the decision about his presidency to the PPP. Notably, Representative Cho Kyoung-tae from the PPP has voiced his support for Yoon’s impeachment, marking the first time a lawmaker from the ruling party has done so.
The DP expressed dissatisfaction with Yoon’s address, asserting that his immediate resignation or removal through impeachment is necessary. If the impeachment motion passes, the Constitutional Court will determine whether Yoon will be reinstated or removed from office, potentially making him the second South Korean president to be impeached, following Park Geun-hye in 2017.
Additionally, the National Assembly will vote on a bill for a special counsel investigation into First Lady Kim Keon Hee regarding allegations of corruption and election interference, just before the impeachment vote. This bill, which Yoon has vetoed three times, also requires a two-thirds majority to override the veto. The DP is also planning to introduce an impeachment motion against Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, a close aide to Yoon, who the opposition claims played a significant role in the failed martial law attempt. According to the law, an impeachment motion must be voted on within 24 to 72 hours after being reported to the plenary session.
