Seoul, Dec 4 (EFE).- South Korea’s opposition parties on Wednesday filed a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol over his declaration of martial law, which was the first of its kind in more than 40 years.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and five others submitted the motion signed by 192 opposition lawmakers shortly before 3 pm local time, and it is expected to be put to the vote in parliament on Friday or Saturday.
To be approved, it needs the of at least 200 of the 300 seats of the National Assembly. The DP and other parties had 190 votes Tuesday night to overturn Yoon’s martial law declaration, which means they would only need around 10 more to suspend him from his duties.
The embattled South Korean leader has not made any further public appearances or statements since he announced the lifting of the law in the early hours of Wednesday following the parliamentary vote.
If the impeachment motion is approved, Yoon would be stripped of his duties until the Constitutional Court deliberates for 180 days on whether he has violated the Magna Carta.
Earlier Wednesday, the opposition DP demanded the conservative leader’s resignation.
“Yoon’s declaration of martial law is a clear violation of the constitution,” the party said in a resolution, in which they added that he did not comply with any of the requirements to declare it.
Senior aides to Yoon, including his chief of staff, offered to resign en masse Wednesday, the presidential office said.
They included Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk, National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik and Chief of Staff for Policy Sung Tae-yoon, as well as seven other senior advisers.
The party announced in an emergency meeting that it would immediately begin the process of removing Yoon if the president does not decide to step down on his own, adding that it is a “serious act of rebellion and a perfect reason for impeachment.”
Yoon imposed martial law Wednesday night in a televised statement he said was aimed at “eradicating pro-North Korean forces and protecting the constitutional order of freedom” from “anti-state activities,” of which he accuses the main opposition.
The announcement came after the DP, which has a majority in parliament, approved without the of Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) a downsized 2025 budget with multiple cuts.
It had also submitted impeachment motions to remove the chief prosecutor and the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection, in charge of monitoring the s of public bodies.
This came after accusations officials failed to investigate Yoon’s wife for allegedly receiving luxury handbags and manipulating the stock market.
Yoon’s PPP party leader Han Dong-hoon asked the president Wednesday to explain his decision to call for martial law and to dismiss Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun.
“As a ruling party, we want to offer a deep apology to the citizens for the current disastrous situation. President Yoon should explain this situation and look for those responsible, in addition to immediately dismissing the defense minister who proposed martial law,” Han said in statements cited by local news agency Yonhap.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the country’s largest labor union, said Wednesday it would start an indefinite strike until Yoon assumes responsibility for his declaration and resigns.
“We will remain united with the people and lead the fight for the immediate resignation of President Suk-yeol,” said a confederation official during a press conference at the group’s office, according to Yonhap.
“The KCTU general strike will be the starting point to resolve the unequal and polarized era and open a new era that respects labor,” the official added.
The confederation’s member unions said they would decide individually when to start their strikes, with those in the Seoul metropolitan area planning to gather at the capital’s central Gwanghwamun Square in the morning to protest Yoon’s istration. Those in other regions said they would gather at locations designated by regional chapters.
A meeting scheduled for Wednesday called by the president, in what would be his first public appearance since his declaration of martial law was lifted, was postponed, according to his office, without providing further details. EFE
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