Useful information
Prime News delivers timely, accurate news and insights on global events, politics, business, and technology
Last weekend, an attempt by opposition lawmakers to impeach the president failed after members of his own People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote. But opposition members will hold another impeachment vote this weekend and have promised to hold one every Saturday until Yoon is removed from office.
PPP parliamentary leader Choo Kyung-ho resigned after the failed impeachment attempt, and on Thursday the party chose Kwon Seong-dong, a Yoon loyalist, as his replacement.
Kwon told reporters Thursday that he would hold talks with PPP lawmakers about whether they should continue to oppose Yoon’s impeachment.
Yoon’s party hoped to convince the president to leave office early, rather than forcing him to resign.
Minutes before Yoon spoke, his party leader Han Dong-hoon appeared on television saying that it had been made clear that the president was not going to step aside. Han then urged party members to vote to remove him from office this Saturday.
If South Korea’s parliament passes an impeachment bill, the trial would take place before a constitutional court. Two-thirds of that court would have to hold the majority for Yoon to be permanently removed from office.
Yoon has been an outgoing president since the opposition won April’s general election in a landslide: his government has been unable to pass the laws it wanted and has been forced to veto bills proposed by the opposition.
Yoon also accused North Korean supporters of trying to undermine his government when he declared martial law on December 3.
The announcement plunged the country into political turmoil. Protesters clashed with security forces outside the National Assembly building as lawmakers rushed to reject Yoon’s order.
Yoon withdrew his martial law order hours after it was blocked by lawmakers.
Since then, the country has remained in suspense. There have been large protests and strikes calling for Yoon’s impeachment, and the presidential office was raided on Wednesday as Yoon faces multiple investigations on charges of insurrection and treason.
Meanwhile, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned and took responsibility for martial law, attempted suicide while in detention on Tuesday. It is in stable condition.
