South Korea’s opposition plans to impeach Yoon after martial law attempt

The opposition politicians in South Korea have stated that they will begin the legal action to remove Yoon Suk Yeol from office soon after his failed attempt to enact martial law.

After a day of extraordinary scenes that saw Yoon quickly impose martial law, 190 legislators gathering to reject it, and eventually a sudden reverse of the decision, the nation woke up to an ambiguous reality on Wednesday.

The Democratic Party, South Korea’s key opposition group, announced on Wednesday that it wants to charge Yoon with” acts of revolution.”

Seoul’s institutions, banks, and government buildings were operating as usual, but rallies have continued throughout the city.

” Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol”, unhappy people chanted as they filled the streets.

The Democratic Party even named Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, as “key individuals” of the military law charter, saying it even wanted them charged alongside Yoon.

” The]party ] condemns the unconstitutional and illegal emergency martial law of Yoon Seok Yeol’s regime as a crime of rebellion.

As the whole country is aware of the rebellion, I urge the analytical agencies to launch an investigation and prosecute the perpetrators,’ the party’s official Seung Rae-cho told reporters.

The statement on Wednesday comes after unexpected events immediately, in which opposition lawmakers walk fences and break barricades to enter the voting chamber.

After Yoon declared martial law, hundreds of troops stormed the congress as military planes circled the location.

190 politicians evaded authorities lines and forced themselves inside the National Assembly as a riot of activists gathered at the walls of the National Assembly.

His next statement, in which he was changing his previous order, attracted cheers from demonstrators outside South Korea’s parliament on early on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Yoon’s top aides, including chief of staff Chung Jin-suk and national surveillance director Shin Won-sik, tendered their defections. It’s not clear whether or not they’ll accept their defections.

The leader himself, however, has remained silent since his short-lived declaration of martial law.

When an impeachment act is proposed, more than two-thirds of South Korea’s 300-member National Assembly may vote to indict- that translates to at least 201 seats. The voting may take place within 72 days.

When the prosecution is approved, the president will soon become suspended from company, while the prime minister becomes acting president.

A trial will then be held before the Constitutional Court, a nine-member committee that oversees South Korea’s branches of government.

If six of the court’s people vote to preserve the prosecution, the president may be removed from office.

In 2016, then-President Park Guen-hye was impeached after she was charged with corruption, abusing state authority and leaking state techniques.

In 2004, another South Korean president, Roh Moo-hyun, was impeached and suspended for two weeks. He was then reinstated by the Constitutional Court.

Within 60 days of Yoon’s resignation or impeachment, the government will need to hold an election to choose a new leader for a new five-year name.

Under South Korea’s law, the president has the authority to declare martial law during combat, armed conflict, or other federal situations.

The next day the country’s long-standing military dictator Park Chung-hee was assassinated in a revolution occurred in 1979, when martial law was implemented there.

A group of military officials, led by General Chun Doo-hwan, declared martial law in 1980, banning social activities and arresting rebels.

Before the 1981 lifting of military law, hundreds of people died as a result of a crackdown on demonstrators.

Since South Korea became a political democracy in 1987, military law has not been in force.

Yoon pulled the trigger on Tuesday, saying he was trying to save the nation from” anti-state troops”.

However, some experts believe that the action is his attempt to thwart political opposition.

Since the opposition won a resounding majority in the government’s general election in April this year, Yoon has been a lame duck leader. His government has been reduced to vetoing legislation that the opposition has suggested, leading to a pathetic bird presidency.

The government’s approval ratings have hit record highs of 17 % this time, as he and his family Kim Keon-hee have been mired in a deluge of crises.

Woongbee Lee and Frances Mao both provided further reporting in Seoul and London.