South Korea's political scene erupted in chaos this weekend as President Yoon Suk-yeol narrowly avoided impeachment after his ruling party staged a dramatic walkout during a critical parliamentary vote. 📉 Lawmakers from the conservative People Power Party refused to participate in the motion, derailing opposition efforts to hold Yoon accountable for a controversial martial law declaration and allegations tied to his wife, Kim Keon-hee.
🔥 Walkout Sparks Fury: Only one ruling party lawmaker stayed in the hall during the vote, with two others briefly returning. Opposition lawmakers shouted names of absent colleagues in a futile attempt to force a quorum. The motion ultimately failed, needing 200 votes but securing only 198.
🌙 Candlelight Protests Ignite: Outside parliament, thousands rallied with glowing candles, demanding accountability. A recent poll showed 73.6% of voters supported impeaching Yoon, whose approval rating plummeted to a record-low 16% this week.
💡 Why It Matters: The opposition accuses Yoon of abusing power by declaring martial law without evidence of a national emergency. They claim he sought to silence investigations into his wife’s alleged stock manipulation and election meddling. Yoon repealed the order within hours after facing backlash.
⚖️ What’s Next? With tensions soaring and public trust eroding, South Korea’s political divide deepens. Analysts warn the turmoil could destabilize markets and weaken Seoul’s global partnerships at a critical time.
