South Korean lawmakers will vote on Saturday to decide whether to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt to impose martial law, marking a second parliamentary showdown that remains uncertain.
The vote, scheduled for around 4:00 pm (0700 GMT), will focus on a resolution for impeachment due to “insurrectionary acts,” following an unsuccessful attempt to remove Yoon the previous week.
Yoon has vowed to fight until the end, continuing to make unproven claims that opposition parties are aligned with the country’s communist enemies. To pass the impeachment, 200 votes are required, meaning that the opposition must persuade eight members from Yoon’s conservative People Power Party (PPP) to switch allegiances. Seven lawmakers from the ruling party have pledged to support the motion, with many others still undecided, according to local media reports.
The main opposition Democratic Party has stated that impeaching Yoon is the “only way” to “safeguard the Constitution, the rule of law, democracy and South Korea’s future,” with spokeswoman Hwang Jung-a declaring, “We can no longer endure Yoon’s madness.”
Thousands are expected to protest outside the National Assembly, with rallies set to begin at midday. Supporters of impeachment will receive food and banners to encourage participation in the cold December weather. K-pop singer Yuri from Girls’ Generation has also shown support by pre-paying for food for fans attending the rally, urging them to “stay safe and take care of your health.”
If the impeachment motion is approved, Yoon would be suspended while the Constitutional Court deliberates his fate. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would assume the role of interim president. The court has 180 days to reach a decision, and if it concurs with the impeachment, Yoon would become the second South Korean president in history to be successfully removed from office.
However, there is a history of the court blocking impeachment motions, as seen in 2004 when President Roh Moo-hyun’s removal was overturned. With only six judges on the court, a unanimous decision is required.
Regardless of the outcome, experts argue that Yoon could still face legal consequences for the martial law attempt. Kim Hyun-jung, a researcher at the Korea University Institute of Law, stated, “This is clearly an act of insurrection,” adding that even if impeachment fails, Yoon cannot avoid legal responsibility under the Criminal Code.
Yoon’s approval rating has dropped to a mere 11 percent, according to a Gallup Korea poll, which also revealed that 75 percent of the population now supports his impeachment. Protesters calling for his removal span all walks of South Korean society, from K-pop fans to retirees.
“We’re fighting for the restoration of democracy,” said Kim Sung-tae, a 52-year-old worker, adding, “Impeachment is a must, and we must fight relentlessly.”
