South Korea’s parliament is set to vote on President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment amid escalating political unrest following his controversial martial law declaration. The Democratic Party seeks accountability after previous attempts to remove Yoon failed due to a boycott by his party. Investigations into treason have begun, leading to a travel ban on Yoon and arrests of key officials, including the national police chief and former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who faces serious charges related to the martial law.
Political Turmoil in South Korea: Impeachment Vote Looms
South Korea’s parliament is gearing up for another critical vote regarding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol this Saturday. This follows Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law last week, which has sparked widespread accusations of an attempted coup by the opposition. The Democratic Party, the main opposition force, is determined to push for accountability.
Investigations and Arrests Amidst Crisis
The upcoming parliamentary vote, confirmed by DP politician Jo Seung Lae to the AFP news agency, is scheduled for Saturday afternoon local time. A prior attempt to remove Yoon failed last Friday when members of Yoon’s People Power Party (PP) boycotted the proceedings, leading to the inability to secure the necessary two-thirds majority.
As the political crisis deepens, there are uncertainties surrounding whether the quorum will be met in this second attempt. Following the initial failure, the PP party indicated plans for a ‘roadmap’ towards Yoon’s resignation, potentially aiming for it by February or March, followed by new elections.
Yoon, in a recent speech, publicly apologized for declaring martial law, which he imposed last Tuesday. However, the parliament quickly vetoed this declaration, prompting Yoon to lift it within hours. Since then, South Korea has been engulfed in protests demanding the president’s resignation.
Investigations into Yoon for treason have commenced, with the South Korean police revealing that they executed a raid at the presidential office as part of their inquiry. Details remain scarce, but the police stated that the special investigation team conducted searches across various law enforcement agencies.
In a significant development, a travel ban has been placed on Yoon to prevent any potential flight abroad as investigations proceed. His current whereabouts remain unclear.
The scope of the investigations extends beyond the president. Reports indicate that both the national police chief and the top police officer in Seoul have been arrested for enforcing the martial law declaration. Additionally, former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, a staunch advocate for Yoon’s martial law decision, was arrested on Sunday. Media speculation suggests that Kim may have been the originator of the martial law proposal, although this remains unconfirmed.
Kim, who has been detained in a Seoul facility, made a statement through his lawyers acknowledging his sole responsibility for the unfolding events, pleading for leniency for his subordinates. Following his arrest, he reportedly attempted suicide but has since stabilized.
This ongoing political crisis in South Korea continues to evolve, with significant implications for the country’s leadership and future governance.