South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Survives Impeachment Motion After Boycott in Parliament

SEOUL, December 7, 2024 – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol narrowly survived an impeachment motion in the opposition-led parliament on Saturday, following his controversial and short-lived attempt to impose martial law earlier this week. The motion, which was prompted by his military emergency powers order, failed to meet the required vote threshold due to a boycott by members of his ruling party.

Only 195 votes were cast, falling short of the 200 votes necessary for the impeachment motion to be valid. The absence of the required votes led to disappointment among opposition lawmakers, with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik expressing his frustration, stating, “The entire nation is watching the decision being made here at the National Assembly today. The world is watching. It’s very unfortunate that there wasn’t even a vote.”

The impeachment motion was sparked by President Yoon’s unexpected decision on Tuesday to grant the military sweeping emergency powers in an attempt to combat what he described as “anti-state forces” and to neutralize obstruction from political opponents. The declaration of martial law, which was meant to give the military authority to address perceived threats to national security, sent shockwaves through the nation. However, Yoon quickly rescinded the order, citing national concerns over its potential consequences.

In a speech on Saturday morning, Yoon issued a public apology to the nation for his actions. Despite the controversy, he resisted calls to step down, maintaining that his decision was made with the intention of protecting the country. “I deeply regret the confusion and concern my actions have caused,” he said, adding that he was committed to serving the nation in accordance with constitutional duties.

While the impeachment motion was halted on Saturday, the main opposition Democratic Party has vowed to revive the motion next week if the parliament’s position remains unchanged. The party has been critical of Yoon’s handling of the situation, accusing him of overstepping his authority and threatening democratic norms in South Korea.

The political drama comes at a time when South Korea is facing increasing tensions on both the domestic and international fronts, with concerns about political polarization, national security, and the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.

As the political standoff continues, all eyes will remain on the National Assembly, where the future of President Yoon’s leadership could be decided in the coming weeks.