Topline
Lawmakers from South Korea’s opposition parties submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday, amid widespread public anger and protests against Yoon’s attempt to impose emergency martial law in the country.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, delivers a speech at an opposition coalition … [+]
Key Facts
According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, members of the main opposition Democratic Party and five other smaller opposition parties submitted the impeachment motion at the country’s National Assembly on Wednesday afternoon.
The motion has been signed by 191 lawmakers—including 190 opposition members and one independent—but has no support from Yoon’s People Power Party, which controls 108 seats in the National Assembly.
Yonhap reported the motion will likely be put to a vote later this week, either on Friday or Saturday.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, several senior members of Yoon’s staff handed in their resignations—including his chief of staff, National Security Adviser, chief of policy and seven others.
A large number of protestors have gathered in Seoul calling for Yoon’s resignation, while the country’s biggest trade union, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, began an indefinite strike that will go on until the President steps down.
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What To Watch For
For the impeachment motion to pass in the parliament, it will need to garner support from at least two-thirds of the 300-member assembly—which means it will need support from all 192 opposition members and at least eight members of Yoon’s party.
Crucial Quote
“We were concerned about the events of last night. At the same time, we’re encouraged by the resilience of Korean democracy…We believe and strongly support the democratic process here and the constitutional process,” U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg told reporters.
