South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided being impeached after his ruling party boycotted a vote on impeachment, just four days after declaring emergency martial law and sparking deep constitutional concerns. The move will allow Yoon to continue in office despite the controversy surrounding his swiftly overturned decree.
The impeachment vote was tabled until next week, giving Yoon a temporary reprieve from further criticism. Opposition lawmakers had submitted a motion to impeach him on Wednesday, but their efforts were thwarted by the ruling party’s boycott of the vote.
Protesters gathered around the National Assembly and marched towards Yoon’s office, calling for his resignation. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions announced plans to strike until Yoon steps down. However, a motion to impeach requires two-thirds support from parliament, which could be affected by the current vacancy rate on the Constitutional Court.
The situation echoes 2017, when former President Park Geun-hye was impeached and later sentenced to prison on corruption charges. South Korean police launched an “insurrection” investigation into Yoon and other officials following a complaint from opposition lawmakers.
The implications of Yoon’s actions are serious, as presidential immunity does not apply in this case, and it can carry the death penalty, according to AFP. With his approval rating declining in recent months, Yoon’s future in office remains uncertain.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2024/12/07/south-korean-president-impeachment-boycott-martial-law