South Korean Leaders Support President Yoon's Impeachment, Ask Members To Vote

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. (Wikimedia Commons/KOCIS Official/Kim sun joo)

JAKARTA - The leader of the ruling People's Power Party (PPP) Han Dong-hoon on Thursday expressed his support for impeaching President Yoon Suk-yeol regarding last week's military emergency announcement, asking his members to participate in the next impeachment vote.

Han said it was the only option left to restore political stability in the face of an opposing president.

He also said President Yoon's speech, which defended the military's emergency announcement, was an acknowledgment of his alleged betrayal.

"We think voluntary resignation (Yoon) will be a faster and more predictable way than impeachment. However, it has been confirmed that the choice is no longer feasible," Han said at a press conference at the Assembly, reported The Korea Times December 12.

"The president must immediately be temporarily dismissed from all tasks, including the legal authority over the military. After ensuring he is not willing to resign, there is a need to dismiss him now. We must prevent confusion (political and social) from spreading further," he continued.

Han's statement was made before the National Assembly would hold a second vote for President Yoon's impeachment on Saturday.

It is known that opposition parties submitted a new impeachment motion against President Yoon on Thursday. Legally, impeachment motions must be submitted for a vote between 24 and 72 hours after being reported to the plenary session.

Han asked all PPP lawmakers to participate in the next impeachment vote and do so in accordance with their "confidence and conscience" and "pandemic of the nation and people," which implies his encouragement for them to vote in favor of impeachment.

Han's change in attitude increases the possibility that further impeachment efforts will be successful. President Yoon survived the first on December 7, after the majority of PPP lawmakers boycotted the vote. Only three members are different.

Given that the opposition bloc has 192 seats in the Assembly, if eight PPP lawmakers decide to vote against the president, impeachment motion will be approved.

Seven PPP lawmakers including three early members who voted on 7 December Cho Kyoung-tae, Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Sang-wook, Kim Yea-ji, Kim Jae-sub, Jin Jong-oh and Han Zee-a so far have publicly said they will vote in favor of impeachment.

At least 24 PPP lawmakers will reportedly vote for them this time, although 17 others did not explicitly say they would choose to support or oppose impeachment.

On the other hand, calls to support Yoon's impeachment continue to grow within the ruling party, even outside parliament.

Oh Se-hoon, the mayor of Seoul and one of the strongest competitors to become the next president, joined the list of high-ranking PPP officials who accepted the idea, even with a heavy heart. After the imposition of a military emergency that only lasted a moment, Oh previously expressed his objection to impeaching President Yoon.

"This is the time to make decisions after the future of Korea." Oh said in a post on social media.

"What has been revealed so far is sufficient for impeachment (Yoon) and needs to be judged by law," he said.

According to a survey released on Thursday by the Realmeter survey institute, 74.8 percent of 507 respondents said Yoon had to leave his post immediately, voluntarily or through impeachment.