South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing a growing opposition movement as his own party leader backs an impeachment vote. The head of the governing People Power Party, Han Dong-hoon, called for President Yoon to be suspended from office after his short-lived martial law decree sparked widespread outrage and democracy concerns.
The National Assembly is set to vote on Saturday evening, with at least eight votes needed from Mr. Yoon’s governing camp to impeach him. If successful, the president would face suspension until the Constitutional Court decides whether to reinstate or remove him.
Opposition lawmakers argue that President Yoon committed “insurgency” and other anti-constitutional crimes by declaring martial law and banning all political activities. The opposition claims he sought to arrest key critics of his government, including Mr. Han himself.
The defense ministry has stated it will not follow any orders to reimpose martial law, citing concerns about the fragility of democracy in South Korea. A special forces commander also denied involvement in a planned arrest squad and said they would reject any order to detain politicians.
President Yoon’s approval ratings have plummeted to a record low of 13% after his martial law decision, with many fearing he may repeat extreme actions if re-elected. The impeachment vote could strengthen the opposition but also pose uncertainty for Mr. Han’s future in politics and the president’s own position.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/world/asia/south-korea-yoon-impeachment.html