South Korean parliamentarians on Saturday voted to impeach President Yun Seok-yeol over the brief martial law he imposed earlier this month.
Parliament passed the motion on Saturday by a vote of 204 to 85.
Saturday’s vote means that Yun’s presidential powers and duties have been suspended after copies of impeachment documents were delivered to him and the Constitutional Court. Prime Minister Han Deok-soo becomes acting president.
The court has up to 180 days to decide whether to remove Yoon from office or restore his powers. If he is forced out of office, a national election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days.
North Korea accuses South Korea of “fascist dictatorship” after fear of martial law
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol speaks at the presidential palace in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, December 7, 2024. (AP)
According to Yonhap News, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung praised the vote, saying that the passage of the motion proves that the people are the masters of the country and marks the beginning of a new democracy.
Saturday marked the second attempt by lawmakers to impeach South Korea’s president. Yoon survived an impeachment vote last weekend after most members of the ruling People’s Power Party boycotted the floor vote.
Since then, as public protests against Yoon have intensified and his approval ratings have plummeted, some Democratic Progressive Party members have announced their intention to vote in favor of another vote to impeach Yoon.
Lee Jae-myung (bottom center), leader of South Korea’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea (bottom center), held a joint press conference with civil society and members of five opposition parties at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Friday, chanting slogans criticizing the ruling People’s Power Party. shout. , December 6, 2024. (Park Dong-ju/Yonhap News, Associated Press)
Although it lasted only six hours, Yoon’s Dec. 3 declaration of martial law – the first in South Korea in more than 40 years – plunged the East Asian country into political turmoil and halted diplomatic activity. , disrupted financial markets. Yun was forced to lift the ordinance after the parliament unanimously voted to overturn it.
South Korea’s former defense minister attempted suicide after being arrested in martial law investigation
After declaring martial law, Yun sent hundreds of troops and police to parliament and tried to block a vote on the order before withdrawing after parliament rejected it. No major acts of violence occurred.
But in the days since then, thousands of demonstrators have braved the bitter cold to flood the streets of the capital, Seoul, demanding the president’s ouster and arrest. Meanwhile, Yoon’s conservative supporters are condemning the attempt to impeach the president and holding demonstrations against it.
Han Dong-hoon (right), leader of South Korea’s ruling People Power Party, speaks at a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, December 6, 2024. (Cho Sung-bong/News Associated Press)
Yun is prohibited from leaving South Korea as law enforcement authorities investigate whether he and others involved in the declaration of martial law committed sedition, abuse of power or other crimes. If convicted, the masterminds of the rebellion could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Yun enjoys presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, but this does not apply to charges of sedition or treason. After that, Mr. Yun may be investigated, detained, arrested, and prosecuted over martial law, but many officials are concerned that it is difficult for the authorities to forcibly detain him, as it may conflict with the presidential security department. I suspect that it is.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Yoon’s defense minister, police chief, and head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Department were arrested over their roles in the martial law incident. Other military and government officials are also under investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
