South Korean President Faces Impeachment Amid Controversial Martial Law Decision
On Thursday, South Korean President Yoon Sukyeol accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun, who took full responsibility for the highly controversial implementation of martial law earlier in the week. The martial law, which lasted less than six hours, drew significant criticism from opposition parties and the public alike during a government meeting.
In a further twist, the impeachment motion filed by opposition parties against President Yoon has been officially accepted, with the parliamentary vote scheduled for 7 PM local time on Saturday, which corresponds to 11 AM in Italy.
Reports from South Korean media, citing anonymous sources, suggest that it was Defense Minister Kim who initially advised President Yoon to impose martial law as a means to suppress dissent in parliament and address growing political divisions. This claim was further supported by remarks made by Deputy Defense Minister Kim Seonho during a parliamentary hearing, where he stated that he was not informed about the martial law order until it was publicly announced by Yoon, learning of it through media reports instead.
In his testimony, Deputy Minister Kim expressed his strong opposition to the mobilization of military forces under martial law, revealing that former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun had ordered military forces to be deployed in parliament the previous Tuesday evening, aiming to restrict access to lawmakers. The deputy minister articulated his fundamental disagreement with this decision and shared his negative opinion on the use of military power in such a context.
Despite the resignation of Kim Yonghyun, calls for President Yoon's resignation have not diminished. The president has remained silent in public since his remarks on Wednesday morning, prompting renewed urgency for the impending vote on the impeachment motion, which would effectively indict him. While the opposition holds a majority in parliament with 192 seats, they require at least 9 votes from Yoon’s People Power Party, which has 108 seats, to pass the impeachment. The process requires a two-thirds majority from the total 300 members of parliament, meaning at least 200 votes are essential for approval.
In response to the looming impeachment vote, Han Donghoo, the chairman of Yoon's People Power Party, declared that the party would oppose the impeachment. However, indications from South Korean media suggest there are party lawmakers who might choose to side with the opposition and vote for Yoon's removal on Saturday.
Should the impeachment proceed, it would not result in an immediate removal of President Yoon. Instead, the case would be referred to the Constitutional Court, where a hearing would determine his fate. Removal would require a six-vote majority out of the nine-member court.
This political turmoil represents a significant challenge for President Yoon, who is facing one of the most pressing crises of his administration. The question remains: how will the political landscape in South Korea evolve following this contentious episode?
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