Is S. Korea President Yoon’s apology enough to save him from impeachment vote?
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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made a public apology on Dec 7 for his martial law declaration, vowing never to give such orders again.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SEOUL - President Yoon Suk Yeol’s apology on Dec 7 for his recent declaration of martial law
The main opposition party is pushing for his impeachment, with a vote planned in the National Assembly at 5pm on Dec 7.
But Mr Yoon’s apology appears to have led at least one ruling party lawmaker to flip-flop towards keeping him in office, at least for now.
Representative Cho Kyoung-tae of the ruling People Power Party met reporters after Mr Yoon’s address and said he would now vote against the President’s impeachment. He was the first ruling party lawmaker to openly support the opposition-led effort to remove Yoon from office.
Mr Cho said he decided to go along with People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon’s decision, which was for the ruling party to vote against the impeachment.
“At any rate, a road map for (Mr Yoon’s) early step-down has to be prepared as soon as possible... The President did say he will take full legal responsibility (for the martial law), so we should include that part,” he said. Mr Yoon’s Dec 7 address stressed that he would leave all his decisions to his party.
A two-thirds majority from the 300 lawmakers is required for the impeachment motion to pass, which means that Mr Yoon will avoid impeachment if all of his 108-strong ruling party vote against it.
Mr Cho’s last-minute change of heart indicates Mr Yoon’s public apology has had at least some success in terms of reducing the possibility of his impeachment.
As expected, his public address does not appear to have had any significant effects on the opposition.
Mr Lee Jae-myung, the chairperson of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, said that Mr Yoon’s speech only further exacerbates the sense of anger and betrayal of Koreans.
“In one word, very disappointing... There are no alternatives to resolve the current situation other than the President’s immediate resignation or him stepping down early due to impeachment,” he said
Mr Cho Kuk, the leader of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, said Mr Yoon’s decision has “no meaning whatsoever”. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
