Government, Ruling Party, and Presidential Office Aides Hold Private Meeting
Opposition Raises Impeachment Pressure, Ruling Party Defectors Key
President Yoon Suk-yeol announced in an emergency address early on the 4th that the martial law declared last night would be lifted, while citizens anxious throughout the night watched the breaking news about the martial law on TV. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
Amid the political turmoil caused by President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of 'martial law,' the government, ruling party, and presidential office aides will hold an emergency meeting to devise countermeasures.
According to the presidential office and the prime minister's office on the 4th, at 2 p.m. that day, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the leadership of the People Power Party, and presidential office aides will hold an emergency meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to discuss measures related to President Yoon's declaration and lifting of martial law.
This emergency meeting will be held privately at the Samcheong-dong official residence, and the method of announcing the meeting results has not yet been decided. Once determined, it will be announced later.
Earlier that morning, Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok, Policy Chief Seong Tae-yoon, National Security Office Chief Shin Won-sik, and all senior secretaries expressed their intention to resign to President Yoon, drawing attention to what outcome the presidential office will present through the emergency meeting.
Separately, the Democratic Party of Korea has formalized accusations of treason and impeachment proceedings against President Yoon, Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, and Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min. The 'Yoon Suk-yeol Impeachment National Assembly Members' Coalition,' consisting of about 40 lawmakers from the Democratic Party, the Party for People's Innovation, the Progressive Party, the Basic Income Party, and the Social Democratic Party, plans to file an impeachment motion against President Yoon within the day, raising interest in the possibility of impeachment becoming a reality.
Disruption of Diplomatic Schedule Inevitable if Yoon’s Duties Are Suspended
According to Article 130, Paragraph 2 of the National Assembly Act, the National Assembly must vote by secret ballot on whether to impeach within 72 hours after 24 hours have passed since the impeachment motion is reported to the plenary session. The Constitution stipulates that an impeachment motion against the president requires the support of a majority of the total members of the National Assembly to initiate and approval by at least two-thirds of the total members to pass, making it difficult for the opposition party alone to meet the requirements at present.
The key factor is the 'defection votes' of People Power Party members. Among the 108 members, if 18 pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction members who supported the lifting of martial law defect to support impeachment, it will be difficult for President Yoon to avoid impeachment proceedings. However, these members are reportedly deliberating extensively before casting their votes in favor of impeachment, making this a potential variable going forward.
If the number of votes in favor of impeachment exceeds two-thirds of the total members, which is 200, and the impeachment trial against President Yoon proceeds, he will be suspended from his duties until the Constitutional Court issues a ruling on the impeachment trial.
On the 4th, when President Yoon Suk-yeol declared the lifting of martial law, union members affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and civic group officials held a press conference at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, announcing a resistance movement to realize national sovereignty and demand President Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
Former President Park Geun-hye was suspended from office for three months from December 9, 2016, when the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion, until March 10, 2017, when the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment. If President Yoon’s duties are suspended, it will inevitably cause disruptions not only in state administration but also in normal diplomatic activities.
President Yoon’s official schedule is also being postponed. The narcotics response situation briefing meeting scheduled for that morning was delayed. The visits of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and ministers, originally planned for the 5th to 7th, were also postponed.
In diplomatic circles, there are concerns that the planned South Korea-U.S. summit following the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20 next year may be disrupted. If the president’s duties are suspended during a period when focus should be on responding to Trump’s second term, it is pointed out that South Korea could miss the opportunity to effectively respond to U.S. trade pressures as well as manage its economy.
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