South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has survived an initial impeachment effort over his short-lived martial law declaration earlier this week.
The South Korean National Assembly, led by Yoon’s political opposition, called the impeachment vote on Dec. 7. The impeachment motion required 200 lawmakers present to reach a quorum in the 300-seat legislature. Ultimately, 195 lawmakers cast votes as members of Yoon’s People Power party boycotted the vote and prevented a quorum.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, said it was unfortunate that not enough lawmakers participated for the vote to count.
“The entire nation is watching the decision being made here at the National Assembly today. The world is watching,” he said.
Impeachment proponents had hoped to punish Yoon for his decision, on the evening of Dec. 3, to impose a state of martial law over the country. Announcing the decision, Yoon accused his political opponents of sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the work of the government.
Within hours of Yoon’s martial law announcement, the National Assembly met and voted to overturn the president’s decree.
Despite the National Assembly’s vote, the South Korean military said the martial law order would remain in effect until the president lifted the order. Yoon finally reversed his martial law order on the morning of Dec. 4, about six hours after ordering the state of military rule.
“This declaration stemmed from my sense of urgency as the president, who bears the ultimate responsibility for state affairs,“ Yoon said. ”However, I caused anxiety and inconvenience to the citizens in the process. I feel deeply apologetic and sincerely apologize to the citizens who were greatly alarmed.”
Yoon said he accepts accountability for his actions and pledged to never again invoke martial law, but said he won’t resign.
Following Saturday’s failed impeachment effort, leaders in the main opposition Democratic Party vowed to try again.
“It’s not over until it’s over. The Democratic Party will not give up. We will immediately re-promote the impeachment of the insurgent leader, Yoon Seok-yeol,” said Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party’s floor leader.
The Democratic Party, together with other opposition parties, hold 192 seats in the National Assembly, while the People Power Party holds 108 seats. If the body could reach a quorum for an impeachment vote, and all opposition lawmakers voted in favor of the impeachment, it would still require at least eight members of Yoon’s own party to break ranks for such a measure to pass.
If the National Assembly does eventually pass the measure to impeach Yoon, he will immediately be suspended from his presidential duties. South Korea’s current prime minister will then serve as interim president, until South Korea’s Constitutional Court can adjudicate the impeachment.
It would take at least six justices on the nine-seat court to finalize the impeachment and remove the president from office.
Members of Yoon’s Party have signaled they wish to avoid an impeachment proceeding like that conducted in 2016 against President Park Geun-hye, over influence-peddling allegations.
“We cannot repeat the tragedy of paralysis of state affairs and suspension of constitutional government through the impeachment of the president,” People Power Party spokesperson Shin Dong-uk said following the failed impeachment vote on Saturday.
