South Korean Opposition Parties Submit 2nd Impeachment Motion Against Yoon

South Koreans attend a rally to call for the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol. Dec. 7, 2024. Photo: Xinhua

December 12, 2024 Hour: 7:40 am

At least two-thirds of the 300 National Assembly lawmakers are required to vote in favor to pass an impeachment motion.

On Thursday, South Korea’s opposition parties on Thursday submitted a second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol over his martial law declaration, according to multiple media outlets.

The main liberal opposition Democratic Party and five other minor parties submitted the second motion to impeach Yoon after the first one was scrapped last Saturday as the ruling People Power Party lawmakers boycotted a vote.

The opposition bloc planned to report the motion to a plenary session of the National Assembly on Friday and put it up for a vote at 5:00 p.m. local time (0800 GMT) on Saturday.

Under the constitution, at least two-thirds of the 300 National Assembly lawmakers are required to vote in favor to pass an impeachment motion.

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol pledged to fight “to the end” in a speech just days ahead of a second impeachment vote over his failed attempt to impose martial law. pic.twitter.com/t7mkcZIDtR
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 12, 2024

If the motion is passed, the constitutional court will deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon’s presidential power will be suspended.

Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

The embattled president said earlier in the day that his martial law imposition aimed to protect against the “legislative dictatorship” of the majority opposition.