South Korea’s President, Yoon Suk Yeol, sidestepped an impeachment vote on Saturday after lawmakers from his own ruling party refused to participate in the proceedings.
The vote, held in a day of intense political drama, saw most ruling party members abandon parliament entirely. Only two remained present, and a single lawmaker from the governing bloc, Kim Sang-wook, cast a vote, rejecting the motion. As tensions escalated, opposition members in the chamber loudly accused the absent lawmakers of cowardice, shouting, “Go inside [the chamber]!”
Outside the National Assembly, throngs of demonstrators gathered, holding placards and demanding Yoon’s resignation. The president has been under significant pressure following his unprecedented, though short-lived, declaration of martial law earlier this week. This controversial move—an act not seen in South Korea for more than 40 years—was met with widespread condemnation and forced him into an abrupt retreat.
Opposition lawmakers have not relented. A second impeachment motion is now slated for a vote on Wednesday, December 11, the earliest permissible date for reconsideration.
Kim Sang-wook, the sole governing party member who voted on Saturday, defended his position, stating his commitment to preserving the conservative principles of the Republic of Korea. While he acknowledged his dissatisfaction with President Yoon’s leadership, he chose to oppose the impeachment, citing party unity and a belief in the president’s apology.
“I listened to the president as he expressed remorse and entrusted us, the party, with handling the situation,” Kim told reporters. “I want to believe in his words.”
Not all lawmakers shared his optimism. Kim Joon-hyung, an opposition member from the Rebuilding Korea Party, expressed his doubts about Yoon’s ability to complete his term, declaring, “He’s finished. The sooner he resigns or is impeached, the better for our nation.”
Meanwhile, President Yoon made a brief, solemn public address on Saturday, his first since the martial law controversy erupted. Speaking for just two minutes, he apologized for the turmoil.
“This decision to declare emergency martial law arose from my deep desperation as the leader ultimately responsible for the nation’s affairs,” Yoon stated, his words doing little to quell the storm surrounding his leadership.
As the country grapples with its political crisis, all eyes remain fixed on the next parliamentary vote, with both the ruling party and opposition positioning themselves for what could be a decisive moment in South Korea’s history.
