South Korea’s parliament on Saturday voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, nearly two weeks after his ill-fated attempt to impose martial law.
A second proposal submitted by South Korea’s main opposition party received the required two-thirds majority. Their first proposal last week failed after members of Yoon’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the trial, leaving Parliament without a quorum.
Out of 300 lawyers, 204 voted to start the trial.
Prime Minister Han Duck Soo will assume the presidency until the Constitutional Court makes a final decision on whether to uphold Yoon’s impeachment or declare it unconstitutional.
In the first response, Han promised to do his best to ensure the orderly continuation of government business. His first order was for the military to increase security measures.
In response to the impeachment vote, Yoon said he would listen to all the criticism, encouragement and support he received.
“I will do my best for the nation until the end,” he added, speaking from the president’s official residence.
Park Chan Dae, parliamentary leader of the opposition Democratic Party (DP), called the vote “a victory for the people and democracy.”
The opposition accused Yoon of violating the constitution after his surprise declaration of martial law on December 3.
The move shocked the nation but was withdrawn a few hours later following a massive public outcry.
Despite freezing temperatures, around 200,000 protesters gathered outside the parliament building on Saturday to support Yoon’s impeachment.
Police estimated that some 30,000 of his supporters gathered in the center of the capital, Seoul.
During the first impeachment vote on December 7, Yoon benefited from a change of heart from PPP leader Han Dong Hoon, who initially said he would support impeachment but later backed down.
But on Thursday Han publicly announced his support for the dismissal of Yoon, who has remained stubbornly defiant in defending his temporary declaration of martial law.
Yoon, in a televised speech on Thursday, called his political opponents “anti-state forces.”
The Constitutional Court now has 180 days to make a final decision on Yoon’s impeachment.
Analysts see this unexpected move by Yoon as an act of desperation in the face of long-standing corruption allegations against his wife. The president’s approval rating among voters has fallen.
Furthermore, his PPP, which does not have a majority in the National Assembly, could not get its legislation passed. The current dispute centers on next year’s budget.
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