On Wednesday, South Korea’s opposition parties have taken a strong step against President Yoon Suk Yeol by filing a motion to impeach him. This comes just hours following he briefly declared martial law, a decision that sparked outrage and calls for him to step down. Impeaching the president will need two-thirds of the parliament’s support and approval from at least six judges in the Constitutional Court.
The motion could be voted on as early as Friday, according to opposition lawmaker Kim Yong-min. On Tuesday night, President Yoon suddenly declared martial law, stating it was necessary to fight “anti-state” groups. This drastic step came as he struggled to push his plans through a parliament controlled by opposition parties.
The martial law, however, lasted only six hours.
The National Assembly quickly rejected the move, and the declaration was officially cancelled early Wednesday morning during a Cabinet meeting. Soldiers had surrounded the parliament during the brief period of martial law, adding to the tension. With this impeachment motion, opposition leaders accuse Yoon of acting against democratic values. His future as president now depends on the vote and court’s decision.
The liberal opposition Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the 300-seat parliament, said Wednesday that its lawmakers decided to call on Yoon to quit immediately or they would take steps to impeach him.“President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration was a clear violation of the constitution. It didn’t abide by any requirements to declare it,” the Democratic Party said in a statement.
“His martial law declaration was originally invalid and a grave violation of the constitution. It was a grave act of rebellion and provides perfect grounds for his impeachment.” Impeaching him would require support from two-thirds of the parliament, or 200 of its 300 members. The Democratic Party and other small opposition parties together have 192 seats. But when the parliament rejected Yoon’s martial law declaration in a 190-0 vote, about 10 lawmakers from Yoon’s ruling People Power Party cast ballots supporting the rejection, according to National Assembly officials.
Comments