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    • S. Korea’s ruling party to oppose Yoon’s impeachment as president clings to power
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    S. Korea’s ruling party to oppose Yoon’s impeachment as president clings to power

    Pabio Posted on

    South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol still clung to power on Thursday, his party announcing that it would oppose a opposition impeachment motion put forward after his astonishing but brief imposition of martial law.

    Yoon suspended civilian rule Tuesday night and deployed troops and helicopters to Parliament just so lawmakers could do so. vote against the measure and force him to turn around in a night of protests and drama.

    SeoulEuropean Union allies were alarmed – Washington said it found out via television – and on Wednesday the opposition filed a complaint. indictment motion asserting that Yoon “severely violated the constitution and the law.”

    The opposition aims to put the bill to a vote on Saturday, Yonhap reported.

    They hold a large majority in the 300-member legislature and need only a handful of defections from Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) to secure the two-thirds majority needed to pass.

    But on Thursday, the PPP leader said that even if he had asked Yoon to leave the party, he would block the impeachment motion.

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    Han Dong-hoon told reporters that his party was “not trying to defend the president’s unconstitutional martial law.”

    “The 108 MPs of the People Power Party will stand united in rejecting the impeachment of the president,” said party leader Choo Kyung-ho.

    If the motion passes, Yoon will be suspended pending a verdict from the Constitutional Court. If the judges agree, Yoon will be removed from office and new elections must be held within 60 days.

    Bad memories

    Yoon, who has lurched from crisis to crisis since taking office in 2022, has not been seen in public since his televised speech in the early hours of Wednesday.

    On Thursday, his office announced that Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun had resigned, but other key allies, including Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, remained in office.

    Yoon’s declaration of martial law was the first in more than four decades in South Korea and brought back painful memories of the country’s war. eventful past.

    This decision was intended to “protect a liberal South Korea from threats posed by North Koreacommunist forces and eliminate anti-state elements who plunder the people’s freedom and happiness,” Yoon said.

    A six-point decree from the army chief bans political activities and parties, “false propaganda,” strikes and “gatherings inciting social unrest.”

    Security forces cordoned off the National Assembly, helicopters landed on the roof and nearly 300 soldiers attempted to lock down the building, apparently to prevent parliamentarians from entering.

    But as parliamentary staffers blocked the soldiers with couches and fire extinguishers, enough lawmakers — some jumping over the barriers — entered and voted against Yoon’s decision.

    That drew cheers from hundreds of protesters braving the freezing temperatures outside, many waving national flags and chanting for Yoon to be arrested.

    ‘Unforgivable’

    Lawmakers formally introduced the impeachment motion Thursday morning, saying Yoon’s decision to impose martial law was intended to “evade imminent investigations… into alleged illegal acts involving himself and his family.”

    “This is an unforgivable crime, which cannot, must not and will not be forgiven,” said lawmaker Kim Seung-won.

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    The main opposition Democratic Party has also filed an “insurrection” complaint against the president, ministers and senior military and police officials – a complaint punishable by life in prison or even death.

    In a show of public anger, thousands of protesters converged on Yoon’s office in Seoul on Wednesday evening after holding a rally in Gwanghwamun Square, demanding his resignation.

    “Robust and resilient”

    The United States has about 30,000 troops stationed in North Korea to help protect its ally against the nuclear-armed North.

    U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Wednesday that Yoon’s imposition of martial law “has raised deep concerns for us,” while praising the National Assembly for acting “in accordance with the processes and constitutional procedures” to repeal it.

    “South Korea’s democracy is strong and resilient, and we will continue to speak publicly and engage privately with our South Korean counterparts to reinforce the importance of this pursuit,” Sullivan said.

    China, a key ally of nuclear-armed North Korea, urged its citizens to exercise caution, while Russia – increasingly close to Pyongyang – described the situation as ‘alarming’ .

    Japan, whose historically tense relations with Seoul thawed under Yoon, said it was monitoring the situation with “exceptional and serious concerns.”

    (AFP)

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