The main opposing force of South Koreathe Democratic Party (PD), and five other parties presented this Wednesday a parliamentary motion for the dismissal of the president Yoon Suk-yeolafter the president saw the martial law he declared the day before revoked.
The six opposition formations thus began the parliamentary process that could lead to the suspension of the exercise of power of the president, whose party governs in a minorityand with his figure subjected to enormous wear and tear after resorting to martial law to protect the “constitutional order” against “anti-state” activities and “pro-North Korean forces,” as he said.
Yoon launched these accusations against the PD, with a majority in the National Assembly and which had put his Government on the ropes by approving without the support of the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) some general budgets for 2025 with multiple cuts, in addition to motions to dismiss the attorney general and the person responsible for monitoring the accounts of public organizations.
The PD and other minority forces They overturned Yoon’s martial law shortly after it was decreedand now they counterattack with a motion for dismissal, which was announced before the media in the National Assembly by the 192 deputies made up of the six parties.
Its promoters pointed out that They plan to vote on the proposal on Friday the 6th or Saturday the 7thwithin the period of 72 hours established by national regulations to process this type of initiatives once presented.
To approve it, the support of at least 200 of the 300 seats that make up the unicameral South Korean legislative body.
The PD and other forces added 190 votes the day before to revoke martial lawso they would only need around a dozen more votes to suspend Yoon from his duties.
Yoon’s own People’s Power Party has criticized his decision to apply martial law – the leader of the party, Han Dong-hoonsaid that it was a “wrong” measure and promised that he would work to “stop it together with the people” -, and some of his deputies actually voted in favor of revoking it.
All this leaves in a position of increasing weakness for the South Korean presidentwho has not made any appearance or public statement since announcing in the early hours of today the lifting of martial law after the parliamentary vote.
If the impeachment motion is approved, Yoon would be stripped of his duties until the Constitutional Court deliberates during a maximum period of 180 days on whether it has violated the Magna Carta.
South Korean Defense Minister resigns
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyunhas submitted his resignation following the president’s controversial decision to approve martial law, which was later revoked, for which he has said he accepts “full responsibility for what happened.”
“As Minister of Defense, I feel responsible and I apologize for the confusion and concern caused to the population in relation to martial law,” said Kim, who has submitted a letter of resignation to Yoon, as reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap.
Kim himself was the one who first suggested that the country’s president declare martial law, a measure that has turned against the president and has led the opposition to present a motion for his dismissal.
“The military who have fulfilled their duties in relation to martial law were following the orders of the Ministry,” he noted before clarifying that the law has been lifted and that, for now, “people are returning to normal.” “The Ministry takes this situation very seriously and will do everything in its power to achieve stability and ensure that no problems occur in defense operations,” he said.
