Military Space News
DEMOCRACY
South Korean opposition plans new impeachment push
South Korean opposition plans new impeachment push
By Kang Jin-kyu, Hailey JO
Seoul (AFP) Dec 8, 2024

South Korea's main opposition party said Sunday it will try again to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after his declaration of martial law.

Meanwhile police arrested the defence minister in charge of the martial law operation, and the interior minister resigned. Both they and Yoon are being investigated for alleged insurrection.

Yoon averted impeachment late Saturday as huge crowds braved freezing temperatures in another night of protests outside parliament to demand the president's ouster.

Opposition parties proposed the impeachment motion, which needed 200 votes in the 300-member parliament to pass, but a near-total boycott by Yoon's People Power Party (PPP) doomed it to failure.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), said Sunday that they will try again on December 14.

"Yoon, the principal culprit behind the insurrection and military coup that destroyed South Korea's constitutional order, must either resign immediately or be impeached without delay," Lee told reporters.

"On December 14, our Democratic Party will impeach Yoon in the name of the people."

- 'Soft coup' -

In exchange for blocking his removal from office, Yoon's People Power Party (PPP) said that it had "effectively obtained (Yoon's) promise to step down".

"Even before the president steps down, he will not interfere in state affairs, including foreign affairs," PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said Sunday after a meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

This will "minimise the confusion to South Korea and its people, stably resolve the political situation and recover liberal democracy", Han told reporters.

But Lee and the National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik, both from the opposition Democratic Party (DP), on Sunday called the arrangement illegal.

"For the prime minister and the ruling party to jointly exercise presidential authority, which no one has granted them, without participating in constitutional processes to address unconstitutional martial law, is a clear violation of the Constitution," Woo said.

"The power of the president is not the personal property of President Yoon Suk Yeol," said Lee. "Isn't this another coup that destroys the constitutional order?"

Kim Hae-won, a constitutional law professor at Pusan National University Law School, called it an "unconstitutional soft coup."

"In reality, a political party is merely a private political entity, and handing over the president's functions to an entity that is neither a constitutional institution nor a state body seems like an action that disrupts the state's rights," Kim told AFP.

- Sorry -

On Saturday before the vote, Yoon, 63, reappeared for the first time in three days and apologised for the "anxiety and inconvenience" caused by his declaration of martial law.

But he stopped short of stepping down, saying he would leave it to his party to decide his fate.

Massive crowds -- police said there were 150,000 people, organisers one million -- gathered outside parliament to pressure lawmakers to oust the president.

Many wore elaborate outfits, carrying home-made flags and waving colourful glow sticks and LED candles as K-pop tunes blasted from speakers.

"Even though we didn't get the outcome we wanted today, I am neither discouraged nor disappointed because we will get it eventually," said protester Jo Ah-gyeong, 30, after the impeachment vote.

"I'll keep coming here until we get it," she told AFP.

- Insurrection -

Regardless of the political situation, police are investigating Yoon and others for alleged insurrection over the extraordinary events of Tuesday night.

Early Sunday police arrested Kim Yong-hyun, who quit as defence minister on Wednesday and was slapped with a travel ban, reports said.

Interior Minister Lee Sang-min on Sunday tendered his resignation which was accepted, Yoon's office said.

Declaring martial law late Tuesday, Yoon said it would safeguard South Korea "from the threats posed by North Korea's communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements plundering people's freedom and happiness".

Security forces sealed the National Assembly, helicopters landed on the roof and almost 300 soldiers tried to lock down the building.

But as parliamentary staffers blocked the soldiers with sofas and fire extinguishers, enough MPs got inside -- many climbed walls to enter -- and voted down Yoon's move.

The episode brought back painful memories of South Korea's autocratic past and blindsided its allies, with the US administration only finding out via television.

"This is a country we've spent our entire lives building," Shin Jae-hyung, 66, who suffered arrest and torture in the 1970s and 80s as he battled successive military-led regimes, told AFP.

burs-stu/dhc

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DEMOCRACY
South Korea ex-defence chief reportedly arrested as president hangs on
Seoul (AFP) Dec 8, 2024
South Korea's former defence minister was arrested Sunday, local media reported, a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol survived an impeachment vote over his calamitous attempt to impose martial law. The motion failed due to a boycott of the vote by Yoon's party, even though huge crowds braved freezing temperatures in another night of protests outside parliament in Seoul to demand the president's ouster. Kim Yong-hyun had already resigned as defence minister after the brief suspension of civilian r ... read more

DEMOCRACY
Russia gave N. Korea anti-air missiles in exchange for troops: Seoul security chief

Ukraine seeking new air-defence systems after latest Russian strike: Zelensky

Think fast: A missile-defense system built for speed

Poland opens long-awaited US missile base

DEMOCRACY
Febrility in Kyiv as ballistic missile threat looms; Russia could deploy hypersonic missiles in Belarus

Russia could deploy hypersonic missiles in Belarus, Putin says

Russia says test fired missiles in eastern Mediterranean drills

Yemen's Huthis say they targeted Israel with missile

DEMOCRACY
Bird-inspired drone can jump for take-off

Lebanon army says Israeli drone hits post in east, wounding soldier

Russia launches massive aerial attack on Ukraine's energy sector

PLP launches drone kit for installing bird diverters on power lines

DEMOCRACY
China launches communication technology satellite aboard Long March 3B

Orbit secures $9M contract to provide satellite communication systems for Israeli defense forces

Airbus to deliver advanced satellite modems to UK MoD for Skynet comms

Fleet Space Centauri 6 advances resilient SATCOM for defence

DEMOCRACY
US announces nearly $1 bn in new military aid for Ukraine

VA wants to expand healthcare coverage for more vets, particularly those exposed to blasts

Biden aide says US would run out of munition in China war

Finland mulls reintroduction of banned anti-personnel mines

DEMOCRACY
EU needs 'big bang' on defence to face Russia threat: new commissioner

Taiwan's Lai says 'confident' of deeper cooperation with Trump

China's Xi urges military to 'combat corruption'

Egypt to float up to four army-owned firms: PM

DEMOCRACY
Japan, U.S., Australia launch Yama Sakura 87 joint military exercise in Tokyo

Trump stands by pick to head Pentagon despite accusations

Lavrov says Russia ready to defend itself through 'any means'

Pope looks to his legacy and creates 21 new cardinals

DEMOCRACY
New Technique Enables Mass Production of Metal Nanowires

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.