South Korea's embattled President, Yun Seok-yew, is in trouble, even as Congress this week filed a motion to impeach him over his failure to impose martial law and the US government criticized his actions as a “gross misjudgment.” Regardless, he nominated a successor to the Defense Minister who resigned. .
This came as the floor leader of South Korea's ruling party vowed on Thursday that all members would “unite” to reject the opposition-led motion to impeach Yun.
“All 108 members of the People's Power Party will continue to unite to reject the impeachment of the president,” Ju Kyung-ho said during a livestreamed party meeting. In order for opposition members to pass an impeachment bill, they need eight ruling party members to vote in favor.
Yonhap News reported on Thursday that Yoon accepted Kim Young-hyun's resignation on Thursday morning and named Choi Byung-hyuk, the ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as the new defense minister.
Yun's office confirmed Choi, a former army general, as his nominee. Mr. Kim, who was also facing an impeachment motion, reportedly recommended to Mr. Yoon that martial law be declared on Tuesday, which would have resulted in Mr. Yoon It was lifted after the parliament voted to repeal it.
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said Yun had made a “terrible misjudgment” in deciding to declare martial law, a decision that surprised even the White House.
At an event hosted by the Aspen Strategic Forum, Campbell cited the fact that despite deep political polarization and division, both sides of South Korea's political camps were able to agree that his decision was a “serious problem.” said it was a heartening tribute to the strength of South Korea's democracy.
He said South Korea was in a “difficult situation” in the coming months and that the U.S. goal would be to make clear that the alliance with South Korea was “absolutely rock-solid.”
Yun's ruling People's Power party said on Thursday it opposes the impeachment proposal put forward by the opposition, but the party is divided over the crisis.
For the opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, to pass a bill, at least eight members of the ruling party must support it. Lawmakers could vote in favor of the bill as early as Friday.
Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won said at the South Korean National Assembly in the early hours of Thursday morning, “The Yun Seok-Yeong administration's declaration of emergency martial law has caused great confusion and fear among the people.''
The declaration of martial law late Tuesday was an attempt to ban political activity and censor media in South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy and a key U.S. ally. The shocking move split Prime Minister Yun's cabinet and led to six hours of chaos.
None of the 108 members of the ruling party attended the presentation of the impeachment bill. The motion paves the way for a vote to take place within 24 to 72 hours.
The impeachment vote took place after a night of chaos after Yoon declared martial law and armed insurgents tried to force their way into the National Assembly building in Seoul, but their aides resisted by using fire extinguishers. Ta.
“The people and aides who protected the Congress put their bodies on the line to protect us. The people won, so now it's time for us to protect them,” Kim said.
“President Yoon must be suspended from office immediately. He has committed an indelible and historic crime against the people, and in order for them to return to their daily lives, it is necessary to allay the people's fears. ”
The opposition requires a two-thirds majority to pass an impeachment bill. If passed, South Korea's Constitutional Court would decide whether to uphold the motion, a process that could take up to 180 days.
If Yoon is suspended from exercising power, Prime Minister Han Do-soo will take his place.
If the embattled president resigns or is removed from office, new elections will be held within 60 days.
In a televised address late on Tuesday, Yoon told the public that martial law was necessary to protect the country from pro-North Korean anti-national forces and protect the free constitutional order, but did not give any specific threats. I didn't.
Within hours, South Korea's parliament unanimously passed a motion to lift martial law, with 190 of its 300 members present and 18 members of Yun's party present.
The president later canceled martial law about six hours after it was declared.
A South Korean presidential official said in a telephone interview with Reuters, “Some say the emergency martial law was excessive and that the emergency martial law procedures were not followed, but it was carried out strictly within the framework of the constitution.''
There has been no reaction from South Korea or North Korea to this drama yet.
Yun had been embraced by Western leaders as a partner in the U.S.-led effort to unify democracies against growing authoritarianism in countries such as China and Russia.
However, he labeled his critics as “communist totalitarians and anti-national forces,” causing unrest among South Koreans. In November, he denied any wrongdoing over allegations of widespread influence over him and his wife, and has also taken a tough stance on trade unions.
Reuters contributed to this report
