South Korean opposition parties file impeachment motion against President Yoon

ANKARA

Opposition parties in South Korea on Wednesday filed separate impeachment motions against President Yoon Suk Yeol and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun amid ongoing political crisis triggered by president’s short-lived attempt to impose martial law, which was subsequently blocked by the parliament.

Six opposition parties submitted the impeachment bill against Yoon to the National Assembly, Yonhap News reported.

The move comes after Yoon, in an aborted move, tried to impose martial law on the country.

The president’s decision was voted down by a majority of lawmakers, forcing the president and his Cabinet to lift the martial law within six hours.
An opposition lawmaker said the impeachment vote against Yoon could be held as early as Friday or Saturday.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) also filed a motion to impeach Defense Minister Kim, who has already offered to resign, while accepting the responsibility “for all matters related to martial law.”

Kim had reportedly proposed declaring martial law to the president.

According to the Constitution, an impeachment motion must be put to a vote between 24 and 72 hours after the motion is reported to a plenary session.

Earlier, the Democratic Party said it would file treason charges against Yoon, as well as his defense and interior ministers, and impeach them.

Democratic Party has a majority in the parliament, holding 170 seats in the 300-member National Assembly. However, they need 22 votes from minor opposition parties and eight from the ruling People Power Party to remove a sitting president.

If Yoon is impeached, he will be suspended from his duties until the Constitutional Court decides whether to restore him or remove him from office.

Meanwhile, all military and police personnel were "fully" banned from entering the parliament building.

"The National Assembly Secretariat has implemented a full ban on entry to the National Assembly building for personnel from the Ministry of National Defense, military forces, and the National Assembly Guard, including police officers, who unlawfully entered the premises," Korea JoongAng Daily quoted Kim Min-ki, secretary-general of the National Assembly, as saying.

The development came after around 280 troops entered the parliament last night after President Yoon declared martial law.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid