National Assembly votes to impeach South Korea President Yoon

Yonhap, Philippine News Agency

Yoon’s impeachment resolution was submitted to the Constitutional Court at 6:15 p.m. by Rep. Jung Chung-rae, chair of the National Assembly’s Legislative and Judiciary Committee, a Court official said. (File Photo: 윤석열/Facebook)

SEOUL – The National Assembly voted Saturday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched imposition of martial law, suspending him from his duties until the Constitutional Court decides whether to reinstate him or remove him from office.

The impeachment motion against Yoon passed 204-85, with three abstentions and eight invalid ballots, after all 300 members of the Assembly cast their votes. The Constitutional Court has kicked off the process Saturday to deliberate on the parliamentary decision.

Yoon’s impeachment resolution was submitted to the Constitutional Court at 6:15 p.m. by Rep. Jung Chung-rae, chair of the National Assembly’s Legislative and Judiciary Committee, a Court official said.

Moon Hyung-bae, the acting chief of the Constitutional Court, said he will convene a meeting of judges at 10 a.m. Monday, and vowed to conduct a “swift and fair” trial.

The Court has also decided to pick two judges to oversee an examination of evidence and form a legal review task force consisting of constitutional researchers.

The motion’s passage came 11 days after Yoon declared martial law in an announcement that caught the nation by surprise and drew outrage, as troops encircled the National Assembly compound in an apparent attempt to stop lawmakers from repealing the decree.

The martial law order, which was lifted within six hours after the Assembly voted it down, has prompted investigations by the police, the prosecution and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials into whether Yoon staged an insurrection. He is currently banned from leaving the country.

In a televised address from his residence, Yoon said he is “pausing momentarily” but will not stop the journey he began with the people toward the future.

“I will never give up,” he said. “I will embrace all the censure, encouragement and support directed at me and do my best for the nation until the end.”

Yoon will be suspended from his duties as soon as the impeachment resolution is delivered to his office, making Prime Minister Han Duck-soo the acting president until the Constitutional Court delivers its ruling.

Han vowed to make every effort for the stable running of state affairs and ordered the military to strengthen its security posture. Later he is expected to convene a Cabinet meeting and deliver a public address.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) hailed the outcome, with its leader Lee Jae-myung saying the motion’s passage proved the people are the country’s masters and marked the beginning of a new democracy.

DP floor leader Park Chan-dae told reporters, “We made a historic victory for democracy because of all who gathered in front of the National Assembly and passionately cried out for the protection of the Constitution and democracy.”

A two-thirds majority was required to approve the motion, with the opposition bloc accounting for 192 of the 300 members of parliament.

Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) decided shortly before the proceeding to take part in the vote but opposed impeachment. The result showed 12 PPP lawmakers likely broke from their party line to vote in favor of impeachment.

The first attempt to impeach Yoon last Saturday failed after nearly all PPP lawmakers boycotted the vote.

A second impeachment motion against Yoon was introduced Thursday by the DP and five other minor opposition parties, accusing him of violating the Constitution and other laws by declaring martial law.

The second motion was revised from the first motion to remove some charges against Yoon but add others, including allegations that Yoon ordered troops and the police to arrest lawmakers while martial law was in force.

The impeachment trial can take up to 180 days. If the impeachment is upheld, Yoon will become the second president to be ousted after former President Park Geun-hye in 2017, triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days.

“From the moment martial law was declared until this moment, the earnestness, courage and dedication the people showed for democracy led to this decision,” National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said. (Yonhap)