- South Korean President Yoon's attempt to impose martial law earlier this week drew intense criticism and calls for impeachment.
- Yun survived an impeachment attempt in the opposition-led parliament after opposition members boycotted the vote.
- Yun apologized to the country but resisted calls to resign ahead of the vote.
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol on Saturday survived an impeachment motion in the opposition-led parliament, which his party lawmakers voted to defeat after his brief attempt this week to impose martial law. This was in response to the boycott.
Only 195 votes were cast, falling short of the 200-vote threshold required for votes to be counted.
South Korean president's declaration of martial law is a “blunder'' and could embolden North Korea, experts say
Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik said with a sigh, “The whole nation is watching the decision that will be made here in the National Assembly today.The world is watching.'' “It’s very unfortunate that there wasn’t even a vote.”
During the plenary session to vote on impeaching President Yoon at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea on December 7, 2024, only one lawmaker from the People's Power Party, led by President Yoon, remained in the voting room. (Jeon Heon-Kyun/Pool via Reuters)
The main opposition Democratic Party announced that if the impeachment bill is not passed on Saturday, it will reintroduce it next week.
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Mr. Yun shocked the public late Tuesday by granting sweeping emergency powers to the military to root out what he called “anti-national forces” and overcome obstructionist political opponents. He later rescinded that order.
He apologized to the nation in a speech Saturday morning, but resisted calls to resign ahead of the vote.
