In a decisive 204-85 vote, South Korea’s National Assembly impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday, citing his controversial attempt to impose martial law. The vote, which plunged the nation into political turmoil, saw 75 percent of lawmakers backing impeachment, with three abstentions and eight invalid votes.
The secret ballot included crucial support from some members of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party (PPP), helping surpass the two-thirds majority required for impeachment.
Yoon’s impeachment results in his immediate suspension from office, with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stepping in as interim president. The Constitutional Court now has 180 days to deliberate on his fate. If the court upholds the impeachment, Yoon will become only the second South Korean president to be successfully removed from office.
The impeachment follows weeks of unrest. An initial attempt to impeach Yoon eight days earlier failed due to a lack of quorum as PPP members boycotted the vote. This time, at least seven PPP lawmakers declared their intent to vote for impeachment, securing the majority needed.
Ahead of the vote, mass protests erupted in Seoul, with 200,000 people rallying both for and against Yoon. Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae accused the president of being the “ringleader of the insurrection” and said impeachment was necessary to protect South Korea’s Constitution.
Yoon’s approval ratings have plummeted, with a Gallup Korea poll showing just 11 percent of respondents supporting him. The same poll revealed that 75 percent of South Koreans back his impeachment, reflecting widespread discontent following his martial law attempt.
Despite mounting criticism and a widening investigation into his administration, Yoon remains unapologetic. His declaration of martial law, though short-lived, has been widely condemned as an overreach of executive power.
As the Constitutional Court begins its review, South Korea faces a period of uncertainty, with political divisions intensifying between Yoon’s supporters and detractors.
Source: Al Jazeera
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
