South Korea was due to vote on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol on Saturday (Dec 7) over attempts to impose martial law. However, before this, most of the members of his own party, the People's Power Party (PPP), left the parliament. There was an uproar in the parliament. British news agency Reuters reported this.
Only one member of the PPP was sitting in the seat when the motion was tabled by the main opposition Democratic Party. As a result, doubts have arisen about securing the two-thirds vote required to pass the impeachment motion.
The incumbent needs at least eight votes from the opposition. However, PPP members walked out of parliament after voting on a different motion to appoint a special prosecutor against the first lady. Some people shouted curses at them as they left.
Opposition leaders said that if the impeachment motion fails, they will raise it again on Wednesday.
The President has apologized to the nation for the decision to impose martial law. However, he did not leave the post even in the face of demands for resignation. He said that he took that decision under compulsion. However, he will not try to avoid legal and political responsibility for this.
He also said, 'I express my sincere condolences to the people who are scared because of this action. I leave the responsibility of stabilizing the future political situation to my party. This includes the decision on my tenure.'
Standing in front of the national flag, Yoon looked at the camera and bowed silently at the end of his brief speech.
Meanwhile, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon claimed that Yun is no longer in a position to fulfill his duties. He said on Friday that Yun had become a danger to the country, citing his resignation as inevitable. He needs to be removed from power.
However, the PPP continued to officially oppose impeachment.
Local media Yonhap reported that Han Dong-hun met with Prime Minister Han Dak-su on Saturday. According to the constitution, the prime minister will take over as acting president if Yun resigns or is impeached.
Yun's presidency was to last until May 2027. If the president leaves office before the end of the term, according to the constitution, a new presidential election must be held within 60 days.
