Politics South Korea: Impeachment proceedings against President Yoon
South Korea's parliament has voted in favor of impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol. A motion tabled by the opposition received the required two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. 204 of the 300 MPs voted in favor of impeachment proceedings. An initial motion had failed last Saturday following an almost unanimous boycott by the ruling party.
14.12.2024, 09:27
SDA
Prime Minister Han Duck Soo will now take over the presidential office on an interim basis before the Constitutional Court makes the final decision. It can either confirm Yoon's impeachment or declare it unconstitutional.
The opposition accuses Yoon of breaking the constitution. On Tuesday last week, Yoon unexpectedly imposed martial law and then lifted it hours later after massive opposition.
On Thursday, Yoon defended his decision during a televised speech called at short notice. He had declared martial law to protect the nation, the president said. His political opponents were "anti-state forces" that were paralyzing the government's work and disrupting the country's constitutional order.
