(Adnkronos) – The parliamentary vote on the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been brought forward from 5 p.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, 8 a.m. in Italy. This was announced by the office of the speaker of the National Assembly in Seoul in a note, explaining that “given the national importance and gravity of the matter, the plenary session has been moved to 4 p.m. to allow adequate time for thorough discussion and consultation.” A second vote, tomorrow’s, after last Saturday’s impeachment motion to remove Yoon from the presidency after his decision to impose martial law, which was later withdrawn, was rejected. The motion was defeated by lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party, who boycotted the vote. It is to them that the leader of South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, addressed today, telling ruling party lawmakers that “history will remember” if they do not support the president’s impeachment.
Tomorrow’s impeachment vote sees Yoon accused of “insurrectionary acts that threaten the constitutional order” and, according to analysts, the opposition may have better luck this time. Two hundred votes are needed to pass the motion, meaning opposition lawmakers must convince eight colleagues from the ruling party to defect. “What lawmakers must protect is neither Yoon nor the ruling People Power Party, but the lives of the people crying in the streets,” Lee said. “Please join us in supporting tomorrow’s impeachment vote. History will remember and record your choice,” he added. Last Saturday, only 195 lawmakers participated in the vote, rendering it null and void.
Ahead of the parliamentary vote last Saturday, Yoon had offered his ‘sincere apologies’ and promised that there would be ‘no other’ imposition of martial law in the country. But then, on the strength of the defeated motion and with a new vote looming tomorrow, Yoon yesterday denied the accusations and said he would not resign from office. ”I will fight to the end,” he thundered, defending his decision to impose martial law in the country as aimed at ”protecting democracy” and ”preventing its collapse.” That is, to ”counter the parliamentary dictatorship” of the opposition. ”I am not changing my position, even if I am impeached or investigated,” he added.
Meanwhile, yesterday the National Assembly passed a bill to establish a special prosecutor to investigate the insurrection charges against the South Korean head of state. Also yesterday, the Seoul parliament approved the impeachment motion against South Korean Justice Minister Park Sung Jae, who attempted suicide in prison, and National Police Chief Cho Ji Ho. The two were therefore removed from office, pending a ruling by the Constitutional Court. They are accused of supporting the imposition of martial law by President Yoon. The motion to dismiss Park, the first of a justice minister in South Korea’s constitutional history, was passed with 195 votes in favour and 100 against. There were 202 votes in favour of Jo’s dismissal and 88 against.
