In a historic move, South Korea's National Assembly voted to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol on Saturday, citing allegations of insurrection following a failed attempt to impose martial law on December 3. The motion garnered 204 votes in favor, surpassing the required 200-vote threshold, according to Yonhap News Agency.
In an emotional televised address after the vote, President Yoon announced he would \"step aside,\" calling for an end to the \"politics of excess and confrontation.\" \"Though I must now step aside for a while, the journey toward the future … must never come to a stop,\" he declared.
The impeachment proceedings unfolded as hundreds of thousands took to the streets of Seoul, either supporting or protesting against Yoon. His attempt to enforce martial law had plunged the nation into political chaos, reigniting debates over governance and leadership.
This development comes just a week after the first impeachment vote failed due to a lack of quorum, largely because Yoon's ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the motion. This time, the PPP decided not to boycott but continued to oppose the impeachment, with only 85 out of 300 lawmakers voting against the motion and others abstaining.
Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, hailed the impeachment as a \"victory of the people.\" With Yoon now suspended from office, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will serve as the country's interim leader.
President Yoon had previously vowed to \"fight until the very last minute,\" even as leaders within his own party expressed frustration over his reluctance to resign. His fate will be determined by the Constitutional Court within the next 180 days. If the impeachment is upheld, Yoon will become only the second president in South Korea's history to be formally removed from office.
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South Korea in Crisis: Yoon Faces Impeachment…
