South Korea president expected to face impeachment vote Saturday for martial law push
CBC
South Korean opposition lawmakers said on Thursday they would vote this weekend to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol for his botched attempt to impose martial law, and police said they were investigating claims of treason against him and top ministers.
Yoon's declaration of martial law late on Tuesday sought to consolidate power, ban political activity and censor the media, a move that sparked outrage in the streets and concern among South Korea's international allies.
Fighting for his political future, Yoon accepted the resignation of Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun on Thursday and nominated his ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Choi Byung-hyuk, as a replacement.
Lawmakers of the opposition Democratic Party planned to seek a vote in parliament to impeach Yoon at about 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, a party spokesperson told reporters.
"The Yoon Suk Yeol regime's declaration of emergency martial law caused great confusion and fear among our people," Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won told the National Assembly earlier.
Yoon's ruling People Power Party is divided over the crisis but said it would oppose impeachment, with the party in turmoil and two years left in Yoon's five-year term.
The Democratic Party needs at least eight of the 108 ruling-party lawmakers to back the bill for it to pass with a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament.
If the impeachment bill passes, South Korea's Constitutional Court would then decide whether to uphold the motion — a process that could take up to 180 days.
If Yoon were to be suspended from exercising power, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would fill in as leader.
If Yoon resigned or was removed from office, a new election would be held within 60 days.
Defence minister Kim had recommended Yoon declare martial law on Tuesday, according to the interior minister, a senior military official and the opposition's filing to impeach Yoon.
Kim also ordered the deployment of troops to the parliament, Vice-Defence Minister Kim Seon-ho said.
South Korea's army chief has also offered to resign, the Yonhap news agency said.
The chief of investigations for the national police confirmed to a parliamentary hearing that the force was investigating accusations of treason and other related crimes over the declaration of martial law. The complaint was filed by an opposition party and activists.
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