Key Takeaways:
– South Korea’s opposition leader calls for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
– The impeachment vote for Yoon’s martial law attempt is set for Saturday.
– The opposition requires eight more supporters for the impeachment motion to pass.
– If the motion passes, Yoon will be the second president in South Korea’s history to be impeached.
– Public approval for President Yoon has declined to 11%, with 75% backing his impeachment.
The Impeachment Motion Against President Yoon
South Korea’s political scene is brimming with tension as opposition leaders call on members of the ruling party to support the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. This comes after a failed bid to establish martial law, which left the nation in a state of political unrest. A second vote on the matter is scheduled for Saturday, and it is teetering on a critical balance.
The National Assembly is set to determine whether the president should be impeached for acts subverting the constitutional order. In order to pass the impeachment vote, 200 out of the assembly’s votes are required. As such, opposition lawmakers have found themselves needing to sway eight colleagues from the current ruling People Power Party (PPP) to vote against the president.
Opposition Gaining Momentum
As it stands, seven members of the ruling party have already pledged their support for the impeachment vote, leaving the outcome uncertain. In a call to action, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung has urged them to put the interests of the people before those of the party or the president. He highlighted that lawmakers must lend their ears to the cries of their citizens, rather than siding with Yoon or the ruling PPP.
A Court Matter
Should the impeachment motion gain approval, President Yoon would be temporarily relieved of his duties while the South Korea’s Constitutional Court debates his future. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will step up as the interim president until a decision is made.
The court will have a set period of 180 days to reach a verdict. A unanimous decision would be required as the court currently only consists of six judges. This wouldn’t be the first time that a president of South Korea has faced impeachment. If the court supports Yoon’s removal, he would be the country’s second president to be successfully ousted following an impeachment.
Unapologetic President Under Fire
Despite the heated debates and increasing dissatisfaction with his leadership, President Yoon has remained unapologetic, even as investigations into his inner circle broaden. He declared on television that he would continue to fight until the bitter end, possibly stoking the fires of the public outrage aimed at him.
Public Sentiment Stacked Against Yoon
Public approval for Yoon has taken a significant hit, plummeting to 11%, according to a recent Gallup Korea poll. In the same report, it was revealed that a staggering 75% of the populace supports his impeachment. The dissatisfaction cuts across all spectrums of society, with protesters ranging from retirees to K-pop fans waving glowsticks.
In the midst of all this, the citizens appear united for one cause: the restoration of democracy. Regardless of whether the impeachment motion passes, people want their president to be held accountable for his martial law attempt. They believe he must face the legal ramifications of his attempted insurrection, underlining the deepening crisis in South Korean politics.