The president of South Korea has pulled of the political equivalent of a Harry Houdini magic trick, after escaping impeachment by the Assembly Saturday.
Just a few days back, it seemed like a safe bet that Yoon Suk Yeo would be impeached, as my colleague Streiff wrote, after he dissolved the country’s Assembly and imposed martial law Tuesday.
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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law Tuesday, accusing the opposition party of plotting “insurgency” and “trying to overthrow the free democracy.” President Yoon used a national television address Tuesday night to accuse the opposition Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, of blocking his budgets and attempting to impeach members of his administration rather than participating in the process of governing.
BACKGROUND: Impeachment Looms for South Korean President After Martial Law Is Lifted
The opposition was not easily cowed. Even as the Army Chief of Staff issued an edict forbidding political gatherings, lawmakers forced their way past a military and police cordon and voted to end martial law.
The opposition party has moved to begin impeachment of Yoon for “treason,” among other things.
South Korea’s opposition parties submit a motion to impeach President Yoon over sudden martial law https://t.co/IhF5ILiIuM pic.twitter.com/C2wemjZJN8
— New York Post (@nypost) December 4, 2024
Korea’s largest labor union declared a general strike until Yoon steps down.
South Korean President Suspends National Assembly and Declares Martial Law
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But that wasn’t how it shook out Saturday, as Yoon’s party swarmed to support him, blocking the vote by boycotting it, thus denying the opposition a quorum in the chamber, as CNN International correspondent Mike Valerio reported:
200 lawmakers were required for a quorum. 105 out of 108 members of President Yoon’s party boycotted the vote, dooming the measure.
— Mike Valerio (@ValerioCNN) December 7, 2024
🚨SEOUL (@CNN) — 9:27PM — IMPEACHMENT VOTE FAILS, President Yoon of South Korea remains in office.
195 lawmakers voted, required number not met. pic.twitter.com/xdyCUZJwL9— Mike Valerio (@ValerioCNN) December 7, 2024
As this is a developing story, RedState will provide updates as they become available.
