South Korea president survives impeachment over martial law turmoil

Lawmakers cast their votes during the impeachment motion against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 7, 2024

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol survived an impeachment motion Saturday over his short-lived declaration of martial law, after the motion was scrapped due to a lack of the required number of voters in parliament.

Most of the members of the ruling People Power Party walked out of the parliament chamber and boycotted the vote on the motion, despite the speaker of the National Assembly calling on them to return.

Lawmakers narrowly failed to impeach the nation’s president over his short-lived attempt to declare martial law. The bill to censure Yoon Suk Yeol fell five votes short of the 200 needed out of 300 members to pass, with many members of parliament in the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotting the vote.

Yoon’s declaration was quickly overturned by parliament, before his government rescinded it a few hours later in the midst of large protests.

The impeachment bill needed a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to pass, meaning at least eight PPP MPs would have to vote in favour.

However, all but three walked out of the chamber earlier on Saturday.One of those who remained, Cho Kyung-tae, credited Yoon’s apology for the martial law decree on Saturday morning – after three days out of public view – as having influenced his decision not to back impeachment this time.

“The president’s apology and his willingness to step down early, as well as delegating all political agendas to the party, did have an impact on my decision,” he told the BBC ahead of the vote.

Yoon earlier in the day apologized during a televised address for causing public anxiety for the declaration of the state of emergency that involved orders banning political activities and the mobilization of the military. But he did not offer to resign.

“I sincerely apologize to the citizens who were likely greatly alarmed,” Yoon said in his first public appearance since he rescinded the martial law order about six hours after he issued it late Tuesday.

While insisting that the declaration of martial law was “made out of a sense of urgency,” the president said, “I will not evade the legal and political responsibilities arising from this declaration.”

He also pledged such an event will not happen again and that ways to ensure political stability, including his own term, would be entrusted to the ruling party.

After the motion to impeach Yoon was scrapped, Lee Jae Myung, the head of the main opposition party, the Democratic Party, said, “The People Power Party is not a democratic party. It is a party of insurrection, a party of military coups.

“The DP “will never give up” and will “ensure that Yoon Suk Yeol, who has become Korea’s greatest liability, is impeached,” he added.The motion was submitted Wednesday by the DP, which holds a majority in the assembly, and five other parties.

Impeachment requires support from two-thirds of the 300 members of the unicameral legislature, which means at least eight votes from the ruling party are needed.

South Korea’s Constitution allows the president to declare martial law in the event of war or a serious emergency, but the opposition parties, the public, and even members of Yoon’s own party criticized his sudden action as unconstitutional and undemocratic.

Yoon’s government has been in limbo as it has been unable to pass its budget plan in parliament. Yoon has also faced condemnation over a corruption scandal involving him and his wife.

After Yoon declared martial law, military personnel forcefully entered parliament, clashing with lawmakers who were also trying to enter.

The military personnel left after 190 members of the 300-seat parliament attended an emergency plenary session and all approved a resolution demanding Yoon lift martial law.

Many South Korean citizens showed their anger toward the declaration as it reminded them of the time when dictators led the nation.