In a decisive move on Saturday, South Korea's parliament approved the second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol with 204 votes in favor and 85 against. This follows the first impeachment attempt, which was abandoned a week earlier due to a boycott by the ruling party.
Following the passage, the impeachment resolution has been forwarded to the President's Office and the Constitutional Court, resulting in an immediate suspension of Yoon's duties.
What Happens Next
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will assume the role of acting president while the Constitutional Court reviews the case starting Monday. Acting head Moon Hyung-bae has assured a fair and swift process. Should the court uphold the impeachment, a snap presidential election must be held within 60 days. If the impeachment is rejected, Yoon will resume his presidency.
Prime Minister Han has pledged to maintain government operations smoothly during this transitional period. However, he and several cabinet members are currently facing allegations related to Yoon's unsuccessful attempt to declare martial law on December 3.
Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, stated that the impeachment is merely the beginning. He committed to pursuing a thorough investigation into Yoon and those involved in what he described as an "insurrection."
Historical Context
This marks the third instance of a South Korean president facing impeachment. In 2017, former conservative President Park Geun-hye was removed from office, while former liberal President Roh Moo-hyun was reinstated after his 2004 impeachment.
The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to make a ruling on impeachment cases, although previous decisions were reached in 63 and 91 days respectively. Currently, with only six judges on the court, a unanimous decision is required to remove Yoon from office. The Democratic Party, which holds a majority in parliament, has announced plans to promptly fill the vacant judge positions.
Yoon’s Defense Strategy
Yoon has been implicated in an insurrection case, making him the first sitting South Korean president barred from leaving the country and raising concerns about potential detention. In a televised address following the impeachment motion, Yoon vowed to continue serving South Korea, asserting that his attempt to impose martial law was a measure to protect against the "legislative dictatorship" of the opposition.
Experts suggest that Yoon's defense may center on arguing that his actions were within his constitutional authority and did not amount to illegal acts or insurrection. He also emphasized that the deployment of troops to the National Assembly was intended to maintain order rather than to dissolve or paralyze the legislative body.
Additionally, a recent Gallup Korea poll revealed that Yoon's approval rating has plummeted by five percentage points from the previous week to 11%, marking the lowest level since his inauguration.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
