The demand for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol‘s resignation has intensified as the head of his ruling party came out in support of impeachment and the country’s military said it would not follow any orders to reimpose martial law.
The leader of the governing People Power Party, or PPP, called Yoon unfit to lead South Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The crisis began when Yoon declared martial law on Tuesday in an unexpected televised address. He alleged that the Democratic Party supported North Korea and engaged in antistate activities, though he provided no evidence. Troops were ordered to surround the National Assembly, but 190 legislators managed to enter and unanimously voted to end martial law.
What are the rules for impeachment?
The South Korean constitution requires a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly for presidential impeachment. The Constitutional Court must then uphold this decision with six out of nine judges voting in favour. Opposition parties can file multiple impeachment motions if initial attempts fail, as per Al Jazeera.
The opposition coalition holds 192 seats and needs eight additional votes from Yoon’s People Power Party for the impeachment to succeed.
If Yoon suspended, what will happen to president post?
If Yoon is suspended, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would assume presidential duties. Han, 75, appointed in 2022, holds a PhD in economics from Harvard University and previously served as prime minister from 2007 to 2008.
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in 2022, leads the opposition. Lee, 60, rose from working-class origins to become a human rights lawyer and served as Seongnam mayor and Gyeonggi governor. He currently faces legal challenges, including a suspended prison sentence for election law violations, which he is appealing.
