South Korea’s Parliament Has Voted To Impeach The President After He Tried To Impose Martial Law
South Korean lawmakers have voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after he attempted to impose martial law, which sparked widespread protest across the country.
South Korean lawmakers have voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after he attempted to impose martial law, which sparked widespread protest across the country.
On Dec. 3, Yoon declared martial law, the first time in over 40 years, to eliminate what he called "anti-state forces."
He accused opposition parties of sympathizing with "North Korean communists" to undermine democracy.
However, within hours, parliament voted unanimously to lift the martial law order.
In the days that followed, tens of thousands of people protested across South Korea, demanding Yoon’s resignation.
On Dec. 7, lawmakers also attempted to pass an impeachment bill against him.
However, it failed after members of Yoon’s party decided to boycott the vote.
As a result, the parliament fell short of the required 200 votes needed for the motion to pass.
The opposition party then proposed a new impeachment bill, which was voted on Saturday, Dec. 14, leading to Yoon’s impeachment after 204 lawmakers voted in favor.
Yoon’s presidential powers have been suspended, and South Korea’s prime minister Han Duck Soo has become the acting president.
The constitutional court now has 180 days to review whether the reasons for impeachment are valid and will decide to remove or reinstate him.
If the court approves the impeachment, the government will hold new elections 60 days after the court’s ruling
During a TV address just two days prior on Tuesday Dec. 12, Yoon defended his move as an "act of government administration" and said it should not be subject to investigations as it did not amount to rebellion, vowing to "fight to the end" .
“The opposition is now doing a sword dance of chaos, claiming that the declaration of martial law constitutes an act of rebellion. But was it really?” Yoon said during his speech.
Yoon said his decision was necessary to "save the country" from the “anti-state" forces, which he claimed were engaging in “parliamentary dictatorship and paralyzing state affairs.”
He was attacking the opposition Democratic Party, which blocked several of his proposals from being passed in parliament , according to Reuters.
“I will fight to the end to prevent the forces and criminal groups that have been responsible for paralyzing the country’s government and disrupting the nation’s constitutional order from threatening the future of the Republic of Korea,” Yoon said in his televised speech.
The main opposition Democratic Party condemned Yoon’s remarks as "an expression of extreme delusion" and, along with other opposition parties.
His administration is now under investigation for possible rebellion charges related to the martial law declaration, which is a serious crime under South Korean law.
Meanwhile, former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned after taking responsibility for the martial law declaration, attempted suicide while in detention on Tuesday.
He is now in stable condition, according to the BBC.
Kassy Cho
Kassy Cho
