South Korean president survives impeachment over failed martial law bid

Istanbul

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday survived an impeachment motion over his failed attempt earlier this week to impose martial law.

The impeachment motion to oust him from office was submitted by six opposition parties, including the main opposition Democratic Party, but it failed when parliament failed to reach a minimum quorum of 200 lawmakers.

To pass, the impeachment motion needed the support of at least eight lawmakers from Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) to reach the minimum threshold of 200 in the 300-seat parliament. In the end, there were only three.

Without the required quorum, the impeachment motion was scrapped.

Currently, the opposition parties enjoy the support of 192 lawmakers including the assembly speaker. However, of the 190 lawmakers who voted down Yoon’s martial law decree during an emergency parliament session overnight Tuesday, 18 were from the PPP.

Motion for probe into first lady also fails

Earlier, ruling PPP lawmakers left parliament ahead of the impeachment vote after taking part in a separate vote rejecting a probe into first lady Kim Keon Hee.

The opposition motion on Kim fell short by two votes, with 198 lawmakers supporting the measure, including six from the ruling party. However, it failed to meet the required 200-vote threshold for approval.

The opposition bloc protested and hurled slogans when the ruling PPP lawmakers left parliament following the vote on Kim.

Parliament Speaker Woo Won-shik called on the ruling party lawmakers to return to the session and cast their votes for the impeachment motion but to no avail.

Yoon, 63, apologized to the nation for his failed attempt earlier this week to implement martial law and said he would not try to repeat such a step.

Yoon was elected in 2022 for a five-year term which is set to end in 2027.

​​​​​​​He imposed martial law late Tuesday but it was lifted within six hours.

Separately, acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho met with top commanders and told them to maintain emergency readiness ahead of the impeachment vote.

Large groups of South Koreans on Saturday gathered in front of the parliament ahead of the vote demanding Yoon’s removal from office.

Civic groups, labor groups, and college students held a series of impeachment rallies in various areas in the capital Seoul near parliament, broadcaster KBS reported.

One person was detained by police over trying to set himself on fire.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid