The opposition parties had in mind the failure of last week’s vote. On December 7, deputies had already been invited to vote on the impeachment motion. The head of state had resisted due to the boycott of deputies from the ruling party, the majority of them having left the Assembly when it was time to vote.
It had been two weeks since Parliament called for the president’s dismissal, after his attempt to impose martial law on the night of December 3 to 4. A decision taken, in his words, to “protect liberal South Korea from threats posed by North Korean communist forces and eliminate elements hostile to the state.” The deputies then met urgently in Parliament, making their way through the soldiers. All of the 190 deputies who managed to get there, including some from the presidential party, voted against the establishment of martial law. Three hours later, the president finally reversed his decision and lifted the measure.
South Koreans jubilant
Frustration and tears from last week’s failed vote have given way to joy in the streets of Seoul. The approximately 200,000 demonstrators gathered in front of the Assembly applauded the announcement of the president’s impeachment by Parliament, “dancing to the sound of deafening K-pop, sometimes kissing each other in tears and waving light sticks”, reports the AFP.
The actions of the unpopular president had caused a wave of anger throughout the country. Although generally refraining from taking a position on any political issues, South Korean celebrities had sent their support to the protesters. The singer IUextremely popular in his native country, had provided food and hot drinks to the demonstrators, “hoping that Uaena’s hands, [le nom de ses fans, ndlr]which brighten up the surroundings, are a little warmer,” reports The Korea Herald.
Wooyoung of the group ATEEZ had shared on social networks a candle emoji – symbol of the protest – accompanied by the song Into the New World by Girls’ Generation, which became the anthem of the protests. Yurione of the members of this group, one of the most popular in the history of K-Pop, wrote: “I was very, very happy to see thatInto the New World had resonated with you. I also listen to it every day. »
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