South Korea’s ruling party, the People Power Party (PPP), has thrown its support behind impeachment efforts against embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol over his declaration of martial law. The move comes after a series of controversies and widespread public anger in the country.
President Yoon had initially refused to back impeachment, hoping instead that he would resign from office. However, party leader Han Dong-hoon said that attempts to persuade him had been unsuccessful, leading to the decision to support impeachment as the only viable option.
The main opposition Democratic Party is preparing a new impeachment motion against President Yoon, with a vote expected as soon as Saturday. The president survived an impeachment bid last weekend when PPP members boycotted the vote, but this latest development increases pressure on him and raises the likelihood of his second impeachment attempt being successful.
President Yoon has faced mounting calls to stand down since declaring martial law in December, accusing the opposition party of “anti-state activities” and sympathizing with North Korea. The declaration was met with shock and anger across the country, which remains deeply scarred by the brutality of martial law imposed during decades of military dictatorship before winning a long, bloody fight for democracy in the 1980s.
Police have launched an investigation into President Yoon and other top officials on treason allegations, and lawmakers approved a special counsel to investigate whether he committed insurrection and abused his power. The president has also been barred from leaving the country.
Despite facing mounting pressure, President Yoon remains defiant, pledging to “fight until the last moment with the people.” He claimed that his declaration of martial law was an attempt to break the political stalemate, while accusing the opposition of siding with North Korea.
The impeachment move against President Yoon has sparked a heated debate in South Korean politics, with many questioning his legitimacy and fitness for office. The outcome of the vote remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: President Yoon’s future as leader of South Korea hangs in the balance.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/11/asia/south-korea-ruling-party-impeachment-hnk-intl/index.html