REDSTATE | Published December 15, 2024
Just eleven days after President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea made a middle-of-the-night declaration of martial law that lasted a mere six hours, that country’s National Assembly voted to impeach him. Twelve members of Yoon’s party crossed the aisle to vote with the opposition, creating the two-thirds majority necessary to strip him of his office and make Prime Minister Han Duck-soo interim president.
As the drama leading to the 204-96 impeachment vote took place inside the National Assembly meeting hall, South Koreans thronged the streets outside in anticipation of the outcome.
South Korea now enters a period of paralysis until all of this is sorted out.
The fate of Mr. Yoon, a deeply unpopular leader, now rests in the hands of the country’s Constitutional Court, which will decide — within the next six months — whether to reinstate or formally remove him. If he is formally removed, South Korea is then supposed to elect a new leader within two months.
During his suspension from office, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the No. 2 official in the government hierarchy, has stepped in as interim leader. Because Mr. Han is not an elected official, he will lead South Korea with no real political heft at a time when the country faces challenges at home and abroad, such as North Korea’s growing nuclear threat and the return of Donald J. Trump to the White House.
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SOURCE: www.redstate.com
RELATED: South Korean president faces second impeachment vote as thousands rally
People take part in a protest calling for the ouster of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside the National Assembly in Seoul on December 7, 2024. Philip Fong, AFP
ABS-CBN NEWS | Published December 15, 2024
SEOUL, South Korea — Thousands took to the streets of South Korea’s capital Saturday in rival rallies for and against President Yoon Suk Yeol, hours ahead of an impeachment vote over his failed martial law bid.
Protests demanding Yoon step down kicked off around midday outside the National Assembly, which will vote at 4:00 pm (0700 GMT) on an impeachment resolution — a week after a first attempt to remove Yoon for the martial law debacle failed.
A Seoul police official told AFP they expected at least 200,000 people to demonstrate in support of removing him.
“If Yoon isn’t impeached today, I’ll return next week,” said protester Yoo Hee-jin, 24.
“I’ll keep coming every week until it happens.”
On the other side of Seoul near Gwanghwamun square, thousands more rallied in support of Yoon, blasting patriotic songs and waving South Korean and American flags.
“Yoon had no choice but to declare martial law. I approve of every decision he has made as president,” supporter Choi Hee-sun, 62, told AFP.
The South Korean president has vowed to fight on and doubled down on unsubstantiated claims the opposition is in league with the country’s communist foes.
Two hundred votes are needed for the impeachment to pass, meaning opposition lawmakers must convince eight parliamentarians from Yoon’s conservative People Power Party (PPP) to switch sides. Seven have pledged to do so.
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SOURCE: www.abs-cbn.com
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