South Korea's President Yoon Faces Impeachment Over Martial Law Fiasco, Public Support at 75%

Dec 13, 2024, 07:41 AM

South Korea's political landscape is in turmoil as President Yoon Suk-yeol faces a second impeachment vote scheduled for Saturday, following his controversial declaration of martial law on December 3. This move, which was quickly overturned, has led to widespread calls for his resignation and criminal investigations into allegations of insurrection. The vote requires the support of at least eight members from Yoon's own People Power Party (PPP), alongside the 192 opposition legislators, to reach the necessary two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament. Public opinion heavily favors impeachment, with a recent Gallup Korea poll showing 75% support. Amidst this, the police have arrested top officials, including the national police chief Cho Ji-ho and Seoul police chief Kim Bong-sik, on charges related to civil unrest stemming from their roles in the martial law declaration. The investigation has also led to the arrest of Lee Jin-woo, the commander of the Capital Defense Command, for his alleged involvement in deploying troops to the National Assembly. President Yoon has vowed to fight the legal challenges, asserting his innocence and accusing the opposition of paralyzing the government. Yoon's approval rating has hit a record low of 11%, and opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has appealed to ruling party members to support the impeachment, stating it is the best way to restore order. The Constitutional Court will decide on the impeachment if it passes, with arrest warrants issued for police chiefs involved in the martial law declaration.