In South Korea, the fate of the president hangs on eight votes

Protesters hold signs reading “Resign, President Yoon Suk Yeol” in Seoul, South Korea, December 4, 2024. KIM HONG-JI/REUTERS South Korea’s progressive camp was quick to respond after the failure of the attempt to impose martial law by the conservative president, Yoon Suk Yeol, a decision which continues to raise questions. On the night of December 4 to 5, 190 opposition deputies and one independent submitted a motion to the National Assembly to dismiss a leader who was more contested than ever. They accuse Mr. Yoon of having “severely and extensively violated the Constitution” in order to “evade legal prosecution”. “He tried to take control of the National Assembly by deploying 250 elite troops,” said MP Kim Seung-won of the Democratic Party (PD, the main opposition party), “a crime unforgivable.” By law, the impeachment motion must be put to a vote 24 to 72 hours after being presented in session. If two thirds of the 300 deputies approve it and this decision is validated by the Supreme Court, the president will lose his powers. The interim will be ensured by the Prime Minister. In total, the opposition parties have 192 elected officials. Even though it opposed martial law, the People’s Power Party (PPP, the ruling party) will oppose the impeachment in order to “prevent any drama among the population because of the chaos caused”, according to its president, Han Dong-hoon. Mr. Yoon’s fate therefore hangs on eight votes. Crazy Night The tabling of the motion follows the crazy night that shook South Korean democracy. On the evening of December 3, Mr. Yoon imposed martial law, a measure accompanied by a deployment of the army and an order for all provincial administrations to close their offices, which the governor of Gyeonggi (neighboring Seoul), Kim Dong-yeon, refused. Martial law was canceled a few hours later by deputies. Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers In South Korea, the president’s attempted coup is defeated Read later The president’s decision has aroused concern around the world, particularly among the American ally. The American Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, considers that South Korea today finds itself in a “difficult” situation, after an episode which he attributes to an error of judgment by Mr. Yoon. “The memory of previous experiences of martial law has a deep and negative resonance in South Korea,” he believes. However, he reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to the bilateral alliance: “We are convinced that the Koreans will be able to resolve these problems. We have confidence. » You have 47.01% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.



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