In a landmark decision, South Korea's National Assembly voted on Saturday to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges of insurrection following a recent failed attempt to impose martial law. The motion secured 204 votes in favor, surpassing the required 200-vote threshold, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
Addressing the nation in a poignant televised speech, President Yoon announced he would \"step aside,\" calling for an end to the \"politics of excess and confrontation.\" He emphasized, \"Though I must now step aside for a while, the journey toward the future … must never come to a stop.\"
The impeachment vote took place against a backdrop of mass demonstrations in Seoul, where hundreds of thousands of citizens gathered to either support or oppose Yoon's presidency. The controversy ignited by his December 3 attempt to impose martial law has plunged the nation into significant political upheaval.
This latest motion comes just a week after an initial impeachment vote was halted due to a lack of quorum, with most members of Yoon's ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotting the proceedings. However, in a turn of events, the PPP chose not to boycott the vote this time, actively opposing the motion. Despite their opposition, the motion passed with 204 votes in favor. Only eighty-five lawmakers voted against it, while others abstained or were absent.
Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, hailed the impeachment as a \"victory of the people,\" reflecting the public's desire for political accountability.
With the impeachment successful, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will assume the role of South Korea's interim leader. President Yoon is now suspended from office pending a final decision by the Constitutional Court, which has 180 days to rule on the matter. Should the court uphold the impeachment, Yoon will become the second president in South Korean history to be formally removed from office.
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South Korean lawmakers vote to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol
cgtn.com
