Impeachment of Yoon Passed with One Vote Remaining... People Power Party Likely to See More Defections

'Named Vote' on Permanent Special Investigation for Insurrection Passes with 22 Votes
Kwon Seong-dong Becomes Floor Leader... Kim Tae-ho Gets 34 Votes
Ruling Party's Rising Stars and Regional Heads Continue to Support Impeachment
Rep. Kim Sang-wook Confirms Around 10 Votes in Favor

On the 13th, one day before the vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol, only one more vote is officially needed for its passage. As defections arise within the People Power Party, the number of lawmakers likely to cast pro-impeachment votes is expected to increase.

According to the ruling party on the 13th, seven People Power Party lawmakers have publicly expressed support for impeachment: Cho Kyung-tae, Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Sang-wook, Kim Ye-ji, Kim Jae-seop, Jin Jong-oh, and Han Ji-ah. For the presidential impeachment motion to pass in the National Assembly, two-thirds of the total members must approve it. Excluding the 192 opposition lawmakers, eight defections from the ruling party are required. Therefore, if just one more member defects, President Yoon’s impeachment can pass through the National Assembly.

In political circles, at least 10 lawmakers including Ko Dong-jin, Kwon Young-jin, Kim So-hee, Kim Tae-ho, Park Jung-hoon, Bae Hyun-jin, Woo Jae-joon, and Jung Sung-guk have expressed intentions to attend the vote, making it impossible to dismiss the motion due to lack of quorum, and the likelihood of impeachment approval is high. Since the impeachment vote is conducted by secret ballot, there is a possibility that some may decide to support it at the last minute. On the 10th, when the permanent special investigation vote on the insurrection passed the National Assembly, it was a voluntary vote, yet despite being a roll-call vote, 22 lawmakers including Kwak Kyu-taek, Kim Geon, Kim Do-eup, Kim Sang-wook, Kim So-hee, Kim Ye-ji, Kim Yong-tae, Kim Wi-sang, Kim Jae-seop, Kim Tae-ho, Kim Hyung-dong, Park Soo-min, Park Jung-ha, Bae Jun-young, Bae Hyun-jin, Seo Beom-su, Ahn Sang-hoon, Ahn Cheol-soo, Woo Jae-joon, Cho Kyung-tae, Jin Jong-oh, and Han Ji-ah voted in favor. Regarding the general special investigation on the insurrection, the People Power Party set an official stance of opposition and participated in the vote, but five lawmakers including Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Ye-ji, Kim Yong-tae, Kim Jae-seop, and Han Ji-ah voted in favor. In the new floor leader election held the previous day, 34 lawmakers voted for Kim Tae-ho, who is less factional, opposing the pro-Yoon faction’s candidate Kwon Seong-dong.

Impeachment of Yoon Passed with One Vote Remaining... People Power Party Likely to See More Defections

Although many senior People Power Party lawmakers still demand maintaining the party’s official stance against impeachment, they are facing pressure to support impeachment even within the party. Figures classified as potential ruling party leaders publicly expressed support for impeachment on social media following President Yoon’s 29-minute national address the previous day. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who had stated on the 6th that "impeachment is not the only solution," reversed his position the day before, saying, "Based on the facts revealed so far, the impeachment motion must be subjected to legal judgment." Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo also declared, "Regardless of right or wrong, public sentiment is formidable."

Metropolitan governors who had sided with President Yoon in the Yoon-Han conflict are also voicing support for impeachment one after another. Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok withdrew his previous stance of opposing impeachment, urging, "I hope the National Assembly, as the representative institution of the people, respects the will of the people." Chungnam Governor Kim Tae-heum also stated, "All People Power Party lawmakers should participate in the impeachment vote and proceed with the impeachment process with a resolute spirit." Chungbuk Governor Kim Young-hwan said, "To prevent further confusion and achieve stability in people’s livelihoods, members of the constitutional institution, the National Assembly, must participate in the impeachment vote."

Kim Sang-wook, a People Power Party lawmaker who began a one-person protest in front of the Jeonghyeon Hall of the National Assembly main building from that day until the vote on the 14th, told reporters, "I have directly confirmed that about 10 members within the party support impeachment," urging support for impeachment.