South Korean MPs voted in favor of the impeachment motion against Yoon Suk-yeol. The latter attempted to impose martial law on December 3, provoking a revolt within the country.
It's now official. Yoon Suk-yeol, President of South Korea, was impeached over his failed attempt to impose martial law on December 3. 204 deputies voted in favor of the motion for dismissal against the head of state against 85 and three abstentions as well as eight ballots considered invalid. “Today's impeachment is the great victory of the people and democracy,” said Park Chan-dae, head of the Democratic Party group (main opposition force) in Parliament.
On December 7, a first impeachment motion was tabled but the opposition failed to get it adopted. Most of the deputies from Yoon Suk-yeol's People Power Party (PPP) left the chamber as a blockade to prevent the adoption of the motion.
For several weeks, South Koreans have been protesting to push Yoon Suk-yeol out of power. This Saturday, December 14, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Seoul to demand the departure of the conservative head of state. Around 200,000 people are expected by the police.
The Constitutional Court must confirm the dismissal within 180 days
The protest affected all strata of society, notably with the support of K-pop singer Yuri, from the group Girl's Generation. One of his songs, “Into the New World” became a protest anthem.
Yoon Suk-yeol is now suspended from office pending validation of his dismissal by the Constitutional Court. His verdict will be delivered in 180 days. Due to the retirement of three of the nine judges of the Constitutional Court and their non-replacement, those remaining were forced to vote for dismissal unanimously. Yoon Suk-yeol will be replaced by his Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
He could become the second president in South Korean history to be impeached after Park Geun-hye in 2017.
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