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December 11, 2024 | 12:51 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - South Korea's main opposition party, the Democratic Party, has asserted that they will not give up on efforts to impeach South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, despite losing the vote in parliament on Saturday night, December 7, 2024.
As reported by CNA, opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung promised to impeach Yoon by any means necessary, as reported by the Yonhap news agency. Lee also apologized to the public for failing to achieve the "desired results."
In their statement, the opposition party revealed plans to submit a new impeachment bill against President Yoon on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, which will then be decided by a vote on the following Saturday.
However, the People Power Party, which supports Yoon, stated that they would seek a "more orderly and responsible" way to resolve the crisis rather than through the impeachment of the president.
On Saturday, President Yoon survived the impeachment motion with only 195 votes, which is below the 200-vote threshold needed for the vote to be valid.
"The whole country is watching the decisions made here, in the National Assembly today. The world is also watching," said National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, with disappointment. "It's regrettable that there was no vote."
Prior to this, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was in the spotlight after announcing a military emergency on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. In his address, he accused the opposition of engaging in anti-state activities planning a rebellion.
"The state of emergency aims to eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional freedom order," said Yoon in his address on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, quoted from Yonhap News.
This decision was made after the Democratic Party, as the opposition, submitted a reduced budget bill to the parliament's budget committee. The Democrats filed an impeachment motion against the state auditor and the chief prosecutor.
As reported by Yonhap News, Yoon Suk Yeol survived the impeachment vote initiated by the opposition parties on Saturday, December 7, 2024. The Democratic Party and five other small opposition parties filed the impeachment motion because Yoon's military emergency declaration violated the constitution.
The motion failed to reach the 200-vote quorum after three lawmakers from the People Power Party, lawmakers Ahn Cheol Soo, Kim Yea Ji, and Kim Sang Wook boycotted the process. A total of 192 opposition lawmakers voted. The opposition's impeachment proposal required at least eight additional votes from the PPP.
Yoon Suk Yeol then apologized for causing public concern due to the military emergency. "I sincerely apologize to the people who are surely very shocked," Yoon said a few hours before the impeachment motion against him, on Saturday, December 7, 2024, quoted from Yonhap News.
He also promised not to make any further efforts to impose a military emergency again. "I will not evade legal and political responsibilities related to this military emergency declaration," he said.
People Power Party leader Han Dong Hoon said Yoon was not ready to carry out official duties. He also promised to strive for the president's resignation in an orderly manner following the failed impeachment motion.
"The People Power Party will push for the president's orderly resignation to minimize chaos. Yoon will be effectively relieved of his duties until he resigns, and the prime minister will handle state affairs through consultations with the party," he said on Saturday, December 7, 2024, quoted from Yonhap News.
The South Korean police revealed that they have initiated an investigation into Yoon on suspicion of "rebellion." Rebellion is a crime that disregards presidential immunity and can carry a death penalty.
Khumar Mahendra also contributed to the writing of this article.
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