The motion, backed by 204 lawmakers, has suspended Yoon from his duties, with the Constitutional Court now tasked with deciding whether to remove him from office permanently.
In the interim, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, appointed by Yoon, will assume the role of acting president to maintain governmental stability, reported Reuters. The impeachment has sparked intense discussions about its impact on South Korea’s democracy and governance, as well as the rationale behind the martial law declaration.
Parliament Speaker Kim Jin-pyo has urged both the government and lawmakers to prioritise economic stability and foreign relations amid the political turmoil. “We must work together to stabilise the economy and foreign affairs during this critical period,” he said, emphasising unity.
The speaker also stressed the need for a swift appointment of Constitutional Court judges to ensure timely deliberations on Yoon’s impeachment. The court’s decision, expected in the coming weeks, will shape the nation’s political future.
Yoon rejects rebellion charges
In a fiery speech on Thursday, Yoon rejected the rebellion charges, calling his martial law order an act of governance. The conservative Yoon said he aimed to issue a warning to the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, calling it “a monster” and “anti-state forces” that he argued has flexed its legislative muscle to impeach top officials and undermined the government’s budget bill for next year.“I will fight to the end to prevent the forces and criminal groups that have been responsible for paralyzing the country’s government and disrupting the nation’s constitutional order from threatening the future of the Republic of Korea,” AP quoted Yoon as saying.Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung called Yoon’s speech a “mad declaration of war” against his own people.
The Democratic Party and five other opposition parties control the 300-member unicameral parliament with a combined 192 seats, but they are eight seats shy of the two-thirds majority needed to pass Yoon’s impeachment motion.
Yoon has been banned from leaving South Korea, as law enforcement authorities are investigating whether he and others involved in the martial law declaration committed rebellion, abuse of power and other crimes. If convicted, the leader of a rebellion plot can face the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Yoon has the presidential privilege of immunity from criminal prosecution but that doesn’t extend to allegations of rebellion or treason. Subsequently, Yoon could be investigated, detained, arrested or indicted over his martial law decree, but many observers doubt that authorities will forcefully detain him because of the potential for clashes with his presidential security service.
Yoon’s defense minister, police chief and the head of Seoul’s metropolitan police agency have been arrested over their roles in the martial law case. Other senior military and government officials also face investigations.
