The South Korean parliament impeaches President Yeon Suk-yeol… and the opposition considers it a victory for the people

Yesterday, the South Korean parliament approved a motion to impeach President Yeon Suk-yeol, against the backdrop of his failed attempt to impose martial law on December 3. 204 deputies voted in favor of the memorandum, while 85 deputies opposed it. Three representatives abstained from voting, and eight ballot papers were invalidated, according to the result announced by the Speaker of Parliament.

The leader of the Democratic Party (the main opposition force) in Parliament, Park Chan-dae, said: “The impeachment measures represent a great victory for the people and democracy.” Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of the National Assembly building awaiting the vote, where they exploded with joy when the result was announced, according to Agence France-Presse reporters who were at the scene.

Thus, Yoon’s work was suspended, pending the Constitutional Court’s decision to ratify his dismissal within 180 days. Prime Minister Han Duk-soo is scheduled to take office temporarily. If the Constitutional Court approves his impeachment, Yeon Suk-yeol will become the second president to be impeached in the history of South Korea, after Park Geun-hye in 2017.

But there is also the precedent of the impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004, which was voted on by Parliament and then overturned by the Constitutional Court two months later. President Yoon (63 years old) caused shock in South Korea when he announced the imposition of martial law, and sent the army to Parliament, to prevent representatives from meeting there.

Yoon survived the first attempt to impeach him in Parliament last week, when most of his party members boycotted the vote so that a quorum would not be met. The Constitutional Court will decide whether to dismiss him within the next six months. If the court impeaches the president, early presidential elections will have to be held.

The main opposition praised the passing of the proposal to impeach South Korean President Yeon Suk-yeol in Parliament, according to the South Korean Yonhap News Agency. The opposition considered passing the proposal “a victory for the people and democracy.”

The opposition Democratic Party welcomed the decision of the National Assembly (Parliament) to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol, for his failed imposition of martial law, and described it as a victory for the people.

The leader of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary bloc, Park Chan-dae, made this statement during his meeting with reporters after the vote, and expressed his appreciation to all those who supported Yoon’s removal, according to the South Korean Yonhap News Agency.

He said: “We have achieved a historic victory for democracy, thanks to all those who gathered in front of the National Assembly and loudly and passionately demanded the protection of the constitution and democracy.” He stressed that Yoon’s removal is “only the first step” towards resolving the crisis that erupted after Yoon declared martial law on December 3rd, and pledged to push for a comprehensive investigation into Yoon’s case and other “accomplices in the rebellion.”

For his part, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announced that he would step down from his position after being removed by Parliament, expressing a feeling of “extreme frustration,” calling for an end to the “politics of confrontation.”

Yoon told television: “I am very disappointed… but I must step down,” calling for an end to the “politics of excess and confrontation” in favor of “the policy of deliberation and reflection.”