SEOUL: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol survived an impeachment vote in the opposition-led parliament on Saturday that was prompted by his short-lived attempt to impose martial law this week after members of his party boycotted the session. Only 195 votes were cast, below the 200 needed for the vote to count, and the motion was scrapped. "The entire nation is watching the decision being made here at the National Assembly today. The world is watching," said Speaker Woo Won-shik, adding that it was unfortunate that not enough lawmakers participated for the votes to be tallied. The main opposition Democratic Party vowed to try again, while Yoon's party said it would find a "more orderly, responsible" way to resolve the crisis.
The opposition needed at least eight votes from Yoon's conservative People Power Party to reach the two-thirds majority needed to impeach. As PPP lawmakers departed after casting votes on a separate motion, some people shouted and cursed them. South Korea's opposition Democratic Party will propose a new impeachment bill against President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 11, which will be put on vote on December 14, local Yonhap News reported on Saturday. Only three from Yoon's party voted.
The president apologised to the nation on Saturday morning but resisted calls to resign ahead of the vote. His party said it could not allow a repeat of the 2016 impeachment of then-President Park Geun-hye, who left office after months of candle-lit protests over an influence-peddling scandal. Her downfall triggered the implosion of the party and a victory by liberals in presidential and general elections. "We cannot repeat the tragedy of paralysis of state affairs and suspension of constitutional government through the impeachment of the president," PPP spokesperson Shin Dong-uk said after the failed vote, noting that Yoon had apologised and vowed to leave his future up to the party.
Saturday's televised speech was the embattled Yoon's first public appearance since he rescinded the martial law order. "I leave it up to my party to take steps to stabilise the political situation in the future, including the issue of my term in office," he said in the address to the nation, promising there would be no second attempt to impose martial law. Standing in front of the South Korean flag, Yoon bowed after finishing his brief remarks, staring solemnly into the camera for a moment.
Han Dong-hoon, leader of Yoon's party, said after the address that the president was no longer in a position to carry out his public duties and his resignation was now unavoidable. On Friday Han said Yoon was a danger to the country and needed to be removed from power, increasing the pressure on Yoon to quit.
In the end, however, most PPP members closed ranks and boycotted the vote. One member who participated said he had voted against impeachment, though he said he did not believe Yoon was suitable for the office. If Yoon leaves office before his single five-year term ends in May 2027, the constitution requires a presidential election within 60 days upon his departure. — Reuters
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