New Delhi:
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has escaped impeachment. MPs from his ruling party did not take part in the voting despite massive protests outside the Parliament. Opposition parties had proposed an impeachment motion, which required two-thirds majority to pass. However, it failed due to the almost complete boycott of Yun’s People Power Party. Yun surprised the country and the world by imposing martial law on Tuesday. However, after six hours he reversed his decision and later apologized for it.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said, “The number of members voting did not reach the required two-thirds majority.” Also said that as a result the impeachment vote was “not valid”.
National Assembly Speaker cornered PPP
He said that the country and the world were watching. “It is a matter of great regret that a vote could not be held even on such an important national issue.” He said it reflected a “failure to engage in the democratic process” on the part of the ruling party.
The PPP claimed after the vote that it halted impeachment to avoid “serious division and chaos” and said it would “resolve this crisis in a more orderly and responsible manner.”
Crowd of people outside the Parliament during voting
This result disappointed the huge crowd protesting outside the Parliament. According to the police, the number of protesters was around 1.5 lakh, while the organizers claim that 10 lakh people were protesting outside the Parliament to remove Yun.
The protesters created a ruckus when the ruling party MPs walked out of the House. During this time many people started crying in frustration.
Jo Ah-gyeong, 30, said, “Even though we didn’t get the result we wanted today, I am neither discouraged nor disappointed because we will achieve it in the end.”
“I’ll keep coming here until we get it,” she told AFP.
Yun is the biggest threat to South Korea: Myung
The opposition is preparing to try again on Wednesday. Many protesters have vowed to continue the protest next weekend.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said, “I will impeach Yun Suk Yeol at any cost, who has become the biggest threat to South Korea.”
Yun publicly apologizes for martial law
“I am deeply sorry, and I sincerely apologize to those who were hurt by my decision,” Yoon said in a televised public address hours before a parliamentary vote on his impeachment motion.
Yun made this comment publicly for the first time after declaring martial law on Tuesday night. He reversed the decision after six hours on Tuesday (3 December 2023). Just before this the National Assembly had voted against him.
I will not avoid legal and political responsibility: Yoon
In his address, the President said that he had imposed martial law out of “frustration” as President. He acknowledged that the sudden decision had caused “concern and inconvenience” to people.
Yun said, “I will not shirk my legal and political responsibility for this declaration of martial law. There is talk of reimposing martial law, but let me make it clear that there will never be another martial law.”
He said, ‘My fellow citizens, I will hand over my tenure to my party to stabilize the country. In future, my party and government will be fully responsible for the management of the country’s affairs. I would like to once again bow my head and apologize for the trouble caused to the people.
Yun was elected for a five-year term in May 2022.
