State crisis: South Korea’s ruling party leader calls for Yoon’s impeachment

Shortly before the second vote on the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, the chairman of the ruling party openly declared his support for the plan – thereby changing his previous position. “We must prevent further confusion. There is only one effective method left,” Han Dong Hoon was quoted as saying by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. Since Head of State Yoon, contrary to his previous promises, shows no willingness to give up the presidency early, he supports the impeachment process, Han said.

On Tuesday last week, Yoon unexpectedly imposed martial law on his country. Hours later, he withdrew this decision after massive political resistance – his actions nevertheless led to mass protests in South Korea and criticism from abroad.

On Saturday evening, the opposition’s first motion for impeachment proceedings against the president failed in parliament after the ruling party almost unanimously boycotted the vote. Now the opposition wants to bring a second impeachment motion to the plenary session for a vote next Saturday. For it to be successful, it needs a two-thirds majority. And this time, ruling party leader Han doesn’t want to boycott the vote. Instead, he demanded: “Our party must support impeachment as the party line.”

In a televised speech at short notice, Yoon defended his decision to impose martial law as a lawful measure to protect democracy. His political opponents are “anti-state forces” that would paralyze government work and disrupt the country’s constitutional order. “I will fight until the end,” Yoon announced towards the end of his speech – making it clear that he would not resign voluntarily.