Sat Dec 07 12:33:13 UTC 2024: ## Yoon Suk Yeol Survives Impeachment Bid After Ruling Party Walkout

**Seoul, South Korea** – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has survived an impeachment attempt after his ruling People Power Party (PPP) staged a walkout, preventing the opposition from securing the necessary votes. The dramatic move effectively stalled Saturday’s session at the National Assembly, leaving the impeachment motion short of the required two-thirds majority.

Nearly all 108 PPP members left the chamber before the vote, sparking outrage from opposition lawmakers who accused them of obstructing democracy and acting as “accomplices to insurrection.” The opposition, controlling 192 of the 300 seats, needed at least eight additional votes to succeed. Only one PPP member remained during the vote.

The attempted impeachment followed Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law earlier this week, a decision he later apologized for, describing it as a product of “desperation.” The martial law declaration, which briefly saw soldiers attempting to enter the parliament, prompted widespread protests and a swift legislative overturn.

While a bill to investigate First Lady Kim Keon-hee, believed to be influential in the martial law decision, also failed, the PPP’s walkout decisively thwarted the impeachment effort. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik appealed to the PPP to return, emphasizing the importance of protecting South Korea’s democracy.

Despite PPP chair Han Dong-hoon’s public call for Yoon’s resignation – fueled by intelligence suggesting Yoon ordered the arrest of key politicians during the martial law period – the party maintained its formal opposition to impeachment. Han reiterated his call for Yoon’s resignation following the President’s apology.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered near the National Assembly demanding Yoon’s removal, while a smaller but still sizable counter-demonstration supported the president. Opposition parties have accused Yoon of authoritarian tendencies. Following the failed impeachment vote, a PPP spokesperson stated that they couldn’t allow another instance of paralyzed government. The PPP’s floor leader subsequently offered his resignation. The situation remains tense, with the political future of President Yoon Suk Yeol uncertain.

Read More