South Korea president impeached after short-lived martial law

International

THE bold decision to put South Korea under martial law became the move that led to the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach Yoon almost two weeks after he imposed a short-lived martial law that plunged the country into a constitutional crisis and sparked outrage from its people who conducted protests in the streets of the country’s capital, Seoul.

"To the people, we hope your end of the year will be a little happier now, and all your canceled year-end celebrations to be restored," National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-Shik said when he announced the result of their voting as per a BBC report.

A resounding cheer echoed in the streets as thousands of anti-Yool protesters gathered outside the National Assembly as they celebrated upon knowing that their lawmakers decided to oust their controversial president.

A total of 204 members of the parliament voted to impeach Yoon, putting him under suspension while the impeachment motion by the lawmakers is now subject to ratification by the constitutional court which will have six months to decide whether or not to sustain the impeachment against Yoon.

If the Constitutional Court decides to retain the impeachment of Yoon, there will be an election for the new president of South Korea within 60 days.

The impeached President accepted both backlash and support from its people, describing his impeachment as a pause to his presidential duties.

"I will take your criticism, praise, and support to the heart and do my best for the country until the end," he said.

He also vowed that he will “do my best for the country until the end.”

While Yoon is suspended, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is now serving as acting President of the country.

Yoon is the third national official of South Korea that has been impeached.

The first was Roh Moo-hyun in March 2004. The second impeachment was imposed on South Korea’s first female president Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal in December 2016.(LAO)