South Korean parliament impeaches President Yoon
Written by on December 14, 2024
The National Assembly has voted 204 to 85 in support of the measure
The South Korean parliament has voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his brief imposition of martial law last week.
The National Assembly voted 204 to 85 in support of the measure on Saturday, above the required threshold of 200.
All 300 members of the legislature were in attendance for the secret ballot, but three abstained, and eight ballots were declared invalid.
The decision by the National Assembly means that Yoon is automatically suspended from office. The South Korean Constitutional Court now has 180 days to rule on the president’s removal from the post.
During this period, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will act as the country’s interim president.
READ MORE: Beijing ‘surprised’ by South Korean president’s spying accusations
Yoon survived a first impeachment attempt last Saturday when his People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote.
However, the PPP changed its stance this week, after its efforts to persuade the president to step down voluntarily failed.
“We tried to find a better way than impeachment, but that other way is invalid,” party leader Han Dong-hoon said. “Suspending the president from his duties through impeachment is the only way for now, to defend democracy and the republic.”
