South Korean Parliament Passes Impeachment Motion to Remove President Yoon Suk Yeol
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been temporarily suspended from his duties after the National Assembly passed a second impeachment motion against him. The historic vote, held on Saturday, saw 204 members of parliament support the motion.
Impeachment Process
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, the impeachment motion received 204 votes in favor, 85 against, and 3 abstentions in the 300-seat National Assembly. During the first attempt, members of Yoon’s People Power Party walked out, causing the motion to fail. However, this time, eight ruling party lawmakers joined the opposition to ensure its passage.
Following the vote, President Yoon’s powers have been suspended. The impeachment documents have been forwarded to both President Yoon and the Constitutional Court.
Next Steps
The Constitutional Court now has 180 days to decide whether to reinstate President Yoon or permanently remove him from office. If the court rules for removal, a new presidential election must be held within 60 days.
In the interim, Prime Minister Han Dong-hoon will serve as the acting president. However, with three vacancies in the Constitutional Court, the decision-making process could face challenges.
Public Celebration
Ahead of the impeachment vote, thousands gathered outside the National Assembly, demanding Yoon’s removal. They sang traditional democratic movement anthems, including “March for Our Beloved”, and “Into the New World” by K-pop band SNSD, a song popularized during the 2016 impeachment movement against Park Geun-hye.
Immediately after the vote count, opposition party members celebrated jubilantly inside the parliament. National Assembly Speaker Woo Woon-sik announced the passage of the impeachment motion, saying, “The future of the nation now lies in the hands of the people. We are moving toward a new hope.”
Failed Martial Law Effort
A recent attempt by Yoon Suk Yeol to enforce martial law sparked widespread outrage among the public and lawmakers. This incident became a pivotal factor in his impeachment.
The impeachment, supported by overwhelming public sentiment, is being hailed as a significant milestone in South Korea’s political history.
