South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol is likely to avoid impeachment as lawmakers from his party chose to abstain from the parliamentary session on Saturday.
Several lawmakers exited the parliament before the impeachment vote regarding President Yoon’s recent decision to enforce a brief period of martial law, leaving only two present. A minimum of 200 lawmakers is required for the vote to proceed. Outside the main chamber, opposition members could be heard demanding, “Enter [the chamber]!” and labeling their counterparts as “cowards.”
Yoon issued an apology earlier in the day for his effort to declare martial law this week but chose not to resign, standing firm against significant calls to step down, even from members of his ruling party.
This declaration of emergency martial law arose from my urgent need as the person ultimately accountable for state matters,” Yoon stated in a two-minute speech.
The action has plunged South Korea, a critical U.S. military ally and the fourth-largest economy in Asia, into its most significant political crisis in many years, which could jeopardize its standing as a beacon of democracy.
“I sincerely apologize to the people who were taken aback,” Yoon stated in a televised address, assuring the public that there wouldn’t be another attempt to impose martial law. “It’s up to my party to take measures to stabilize the political landscape moving forward, including matters regarding my presidency,” he remarked. Y
Yoon bowed while standing before the South Korean flag after concluding his brief speech, gazing solemnly into the camera. Han Dong-hoon, the head of Yoon’s ruling party, remarked post-speech that the president could no longer fulfill his public responsibilities, making his resignation inevitable.
On Friday, Han described Yoon as a threat to the nation and insisted that he needed to be ousted, intensifying the call for Yoon’s resignation despite the PPP members subsequently reaffirming their official opposition to his impeachment.
Han had a meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Saturday, according to local Yonhap News. According to the constitution, if Yoon chooses to resign or is impeached, the prime minister, who was appointed by Yoon, would assume the role of acting president of South Korea.
