Second Impeachment Motion Looms for South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol
TL/DR –
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is facing a second impeachment motion in the National Assembly following his controversial declaration of martial law. If impeached, Yoon’s presidential powers will be suspended and the prime minister will assume the role of acting president, unless he is also impeached, in which case the deputy prime minister for the economy would take over. If the impeachment motion is passed, it will move to the Constitutional Court for review, where it must be supported by at least six out of the nine justices to proceed; if upheld, Yoon will be removed from office and lose privileges given to former presidents, with a new leader to be elected within 60 days.
Seoul, South Korea – A second impeachment motion against South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is set to be presented in the National Assembly on Saturday, a week after the first attempt by the opposition failed.
Following Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law on December 3, nationwide protests have surged, putting Asia’s fourth-largest economy under stress.
The latest impeachment motion needs at least 200 votes for success in the 300-seat National Assembly. The opposition holds 192 seats, needing an additional eight to reach the required number.
Interestingly, a growing number of legislators from Yoon’s People Power Party have shown support for the impeachment, increasing its likelihood. Despite this, Yoon vowed to fight it out during a televised address on Thursday.
What happens if Yoon is impeached?
If the impeachment is successful, Yoon’s presidential powers will be suspended, but he will retain the title and some privileges. The prime minister will assume presidential responsibilities, under Article 71 of the Constitution. The opposition, however, is also considering impeaching Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in relation to the martial law declaration.
Review at the Constitutional Court
The process will then move to the Constitutional Court, where six out of the nine justices need to support the motion. With only six justices currently on the bench, Yoon just needs one supportive ruling to survive. The court must rule within 180 days of receiving the case.
Yoon’s potential legal defence
Yoon is expected to argue that his declaration of martial law is within his constitutional rights and not an insurrection. He believes his decision was an emergency response to a severe political crisis, which he blames on the opposition-controlled National Assembly.
Constitutional Court’s ruling
If the impeachment is upheld, Yoon will be unseated and lose former president privileges. A new presidential election would then be held within 60 days. If rejected, Yoon will resume his presidential duties.
Separate investigations
Despite potential impeachment, Yoon also faces criminal investigations. This means Yoon could potentially be arrested, marking the first such case involving a sitting president in South Korea.
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