In a dramatic turn of events, South Korea's parliament failed to pass President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment motion on Saturday. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) made headlines by walking out of the parliament hall, leaving the motion without enough support to proceed.
The impeachment was spearheaded by opposition parties, including the liberal Democratic Party, in response to alleged scandals involving Yoon's wife, Kim Keon-hee. The motion aimed to initiate a special prosecutor investigation into these allegations.
During the vote, 198 of the 300 National Assembly lawmakers supported the bill for a special prosecutor, while 102 opposed it. However, the PPP, which holds 108 seats, largely abstained by leaving the hall, significantly undermining the motion's chances. Only one PPP lawmaker stayed, and two returned after initially leaving.
Opposition members urgently called on the ruling party to return and cast their votes, emphasizing the importance of meeting the two-thirds majority required for the bill to pass in a revote. Despite these appeals, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik concluded the voting process after three hours, declaring the impeachment motion dead due to a lack of quorum.
Outside the parliament, the decision sparked intense reactions, with hundreds of thousands of civilians gathering in a candlelight rally. Demonstrators demanded a fair vote on President Yoon's impeachment, reflecting widespread public dissatisfaction.
The impeachment motion was initially submitted over Yoon's declaration of martial law on Tuesday night, which was swiftly revoked early Wednesday following parliamentary rejection. Critics argue that the martial law declaration was unwarranted, lacking a genuine national emergency, and accused Yoon of overstepping constitutional boundaries.
Adding to the controversy, allegations surfaced that Yoon attempted treason by directing the defense minister to illegally mobilize troops, aiming to thwart investigations into himself and his wife for alleged criminal activities. These actions have severely dented Yoon's reputation, with his approval rating plummeting to 16 percent—the lowest since he assumed office in May 2022.
Public sentiment reflects a majority in favor of impeachment, as indicated by a Realmeter survey where 73.6 percent supported the move. Even traditionally conservative strongholds like North Gyeongsang Province and Daegu showed significant support, with 66.2 percent backing the impeachment.
As South Korea navigates this political turmoil, the future of President Yoon's administration remains uncertain, with mounting pressure from both the opposition and the public to address the ongoing scandals and restore trust in the government.
Reference(s):
South Korea's impeachment vote fails as ruling party walks out
cgtn.com