South Korea’s parliament votes to impeach the president

South Korean lawmakers have voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated attempt to impose martial law, which led to mass protests across the country.

A total of 204 MPs supported the motion, including some from Yun’s People’s Power Party (PPP) – although the decision still needs to be approved by the Constitutional Court.

After several days of public pressure, the PPP had decided to allow its MPs to vote. Attempt to impeach Yoon last week Failed when its MPs boycotted the hearing.

Thousands of anti-Yun protesters celebrated outside the National Assembly on Saturday evening after the impeachment motion was passed, with the crowd singing songs and fireworks being set off overhead.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik announced the results, saying, “For the sake of the people, we hope that your year-end will now be a little happier, and that all of your canceled year-end celebrations will be reinstated. “

“The future of the Republic of Korea and our hope is in the hands of the people, our hope is strong,” said Woo, a member of the main opposition Democratic Party.

Yun’s impeachment has received overwhelming public support – recent polls showed that three-quarters of South Koreans wanted to see him gone.

The Constitutional Court now has 180 days to rule on whether Yun should be impeached or reinstated. If there is a rule for impeachment, then elections must be called for the next President within 60 days.

Yoon is suspended while Prime Minister Han Duk-soo takes over as acting president.

However, Han and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is in line for the presidency, are both involved in an ongoing police investigation over last week’s events.

In a statement after the vote, Yun said he was “temporarily pausing his travel” but that he would “never give up”.

He said, “I will take your criticism, praise and support to heart and will do my best for the country till the end.”

Outside the National Assembly, where thousands of protesters gathered throughout the day despite bitter cold, many spoke of their determination to see Yun leave office permanently.

“I’m very happy that the bill passed… At the same time, the fight is not over,” physical therapist Sim Hee-seon told the BBC, wiping away tears.

“We will have to wait for the court’s decision to finalize his impeachment. We will keep watching.”

Two women dressed as Rudolph held signs that read: “(It will only be a Merry Christmas if Yoon Seok Yul disappears”).

Across town at a pro-Yoon rally in Gwanghwamun Square, it was a different story. His supporters became silent after hearing the news of voting. Some people shouted angry insults before leaving the scene.

The success of the vote depended on the PPP’s support, as the opposition MPs who introduced the motion needed just eight more to join them. Last Saturday, when the opposition first tried to impeach Yun, they fell short by just a few votes as the PPP walked out.

On Saturday, the party held a marathon meeting that started at 10 am and lasted until minutes before the voting session began, as PPP MPs struggled to reach a consensus on the party’s stance.

Ultimately, the party agreed to participate and allowed its MPs to vote according to their conscience. It appeared that at least 12 of them crossed the floor. The other 85 voted against impeachment.

South Korea has faced nearly two weeks of chaos and uncertainty since Yun’s short-lived martial law attempt late last Tuesday.

Yoon cited threats from “anti-state forces” and North Korea. But it soon became clear that his move was motivated not by external threats, but by his own domestic political troubles.

He reversed the order just hours later when 190 MPs defied it, many of them climbing over fences and breaking barricades to get into the voting chamber.

Later he apologized. Then on Thursday, he defended his actions, saying he did so to protect the country’s democracy and vowing to “fight to the end.”

That speech enraged people and the president’s approval rating fell to a record low of 11%, according to a survey by Gallup Korea.

Impeaching a president is not unknown territory for South Korea, which last removed former President Park Geun-hye through the process in 2016.

Ironically, Yoon – who was a prosecutor at the time – had led the investigation against Park, which ultimately resulted in her impeachment.

Additional reporting by Leehyun Choi, Jake Kwon and Yuna Koo in Seoul