South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to face impeachment, not resign soon

According to Chosun Ilbo - The Presidential Office has informed the ruling party that President Yoon is determined to face impeachment proceedings instead of resigning. Earlier on December 10, the South Korean National Assembly passed a resolution requesting the urgent arrest of eight key figures, including President Yoon Suk-yeol, in connection with the declaration of martial law early last week.

President Yoon Suk Yeol's decision goes against calls from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) for him to step down early.

This move shows that President Yoon Suk-yeol wants to face impeachment proceedings directly at the Constitutional Court, instead of resigning early. The Korea Times assessed that President Yoon can expect that the court will reject the impeachment motion, because currently there are 3 out of 9 vacant judges' seats.

President Yoon apologized to the people after martial law was declared. (Photo: Korea Times)

According to the Constitutional Court Act of South Korea, at least six justices must agree to pass a motion for impeachment. This means that all six current justices must agree in full for the motion to pass.

The PPP task force, formed to deal with the ongoing impeachment crisis, held a meeting on December 10 and proposed that President Yoon Suk-yeol step down early in February or March. However, the meeting did not produce any results.

Mr. Kim Jong-hyuk, a member of the Supreme Council of the PPP, also confirmed President Yoon's stance in an interview on SBS.

“ Although no official statement has been made, according to my sources in the Presidential Office, it seems that Mr. Yoon is thinking: 'There is no way to resign under any circumstances. I will not voluntarily leave the position,' ” Mr. Kim said.

If Mr. Yoon officially chooses to face impeachment proceedings instead of resigning, this move is expected to affect the second impeachment vote in the National Assembly, scheduled to take place on December 14.

In the first vote in the National Assembly over the weekend, Mr. Yoon temporarily escaped impeachment when PPP lawmakers boycotted the vote, preventing the opposition from achieving the necessary two-thirds majority. However, many PPP lawmakers have now expressed their intention to participate in the second vote.

To achieve a two-thirds majority, the opposition needs at least eight lawmakers from the PPP to support the impeachment motion.

Quartz (Source: Korea Times)

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/korean-president-yoon-suk-yeol-se-doi-mat-luan-toi-khong-tu-chuc-som-ar913012.html