South Korean Parliament Rejects Impeachment Motion Against President Yoon

South Korea's President Yoon Survives Impeachment Proceedings

The South Korean parliament has rejected the opposition's motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. The required two-thirds majority was clearly missed after a large number of members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote. Only three PPP lawmakers participated in the vote, two voted against, one in favor. The opposition parties hold 192 seats, but needed 200 votes in the 300-seat parliament for a successful impeachment.

The vote on Saturday evening (local time) was accompanied by chaotic scenes. Television pictures showed almost all PPP members leaving the plenary hall before the vote began. Opposition members then insulted them as "accomplices to a coup." Parliament Speaker Woo Won Shik, a member of the opposition, appealed to the PPP to return and "save the democracy of the Republic of Korea." The vote was ultimately declared failed without a count.

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in front of the parliament building for Yoon's resignation. The Yonhap news agency reported 150,000 participants, while organizers even spoke of one million. Many reacted with disappointment and anger to the ruling party's boycott.

Deep Political Crisis After Declaration of Martial Law

The failed impeachment motion is the latest development in an ongoing political crisis. The trigger was Yoon's surprising imposition of martial law on Tuesday evening. He justified the move with the need to protect South Korea from North Korean threats and "anti-state elements." After massive resistance, including from within the PPP, and a parliamentary veto, Yoon lifted martial law a few hours later. However, the incident triggered nationwide protests and outrage.

Yoon's approval ratings have plummeted to a record low since the imposition of martial law. A poll released on Friday showed him at only 13 percent. On Saturday morning, Yoon apologized for his actions in a televised address. He announced that he would leave it to his party to "stabilize the political situation," including with regard to his term in office. Shortly thereafter, PPP leader Han Dong Hoon described Yoon's resignation as "inevitable." Despite the failed impeachment proceedings, Han declared that the PPP would work with Yoon to find a path for an orderly resignation.

Opposition Announces New Attempt

The opposition parties announced that they would reintroduce the impeachment motion on Wednesday. Opposition leader Lee Jae Myung called Yoon the "main culprit" for the crisis and demanded his immediate resignation or impeachment. The ruling party, on the other hand, declared that it wanted to find an "orderly and responsible" way out of the crisis. The political future of South Korea thus remains uncertain.

Mindverse, as a German provider of AI solutions for text, image, and research, is closely following these developments. Customized solutions such as chatbots, voicebots, AI search engines, and knowledge systems can help to analyze and understand complex political situations.

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