South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol Survives Impeachment Vote
Constitutional Crisis Deepens
SEOUL: South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol is still commander in chief and there is no disruption to the US alliance, the defence ministry said on Monday after it was revealed Yoon was under criminal investigation for declaring martial law last week.
Yoon’s grip on power has come into question with dissent growing among senior military officers against the president, and his own party saying it would establish a task force to handle his eventual resignation.
Impeachment Vote
While Yoon survived an impeachment vote in parliament on Saturday, his party’s decision to delegate presidential authority to the prime minister has plunged the key US ally into a constitutional crisis.
Yoon has refused calls, including some from within his own ruling party, to resign, but his future looked more uncertain over the weekend when Yonhap news agency reported he was under criminal investigation for alleged treason.
Criminal Investigation
Police were also considering banning him from leaving the country, Yonhap and other media reported on Monday.
Prosecutors on Sunday arrested ex-defence minister Kim Yong-hyun over his alleged role in the declaration of martial law, Yonhap reported.
Martial Law Declaration
Yoon gave the military sweeping emergency powers on Dec 3 to root out what he called "anti-state forces" and obstructionist political opponents. He rescinded the order six hours later, after parliament defied military and police cordons to vote unanimously against the decree.
Military Backlash
Amid the backlash, multiple military officials, including the acting defence minister, have said they would not follow any new order to impose martial law again.
The main opposition Democratic Party has called for Yoon to be stripped of authority to control the military. The DP has also demanded the arrest of Yoon and any military officials implicated in the martial law fiasco.
Task Force Established
Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) had established a task force to deal with, among other matters, "political stabilisation after martial law and (Yoon’s) orderly early resignation", a spokesman said on Monday.
On Sunday, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said the president would be excluded from foreign and other state affairs, and prime minister Han Duck-soo would manage government affairs until Yoon eventually stepped aside.
Opposition Criticism
That proposal has drawn criticism from the opposition, which says it is unconstitutional. It says Yoon must be impeached or resign and face legal prosecution, and plans to table another impeachment bill on Saturday.
Economic Concerns
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung warned on Monday that the political crisis threatened to do irreversible harm to Asia’s fourth-largest economy, major global supplier of memory chips.
South Korea’s finance ministry and regulators said they would make all-out efforts to stabilise financial markets by deploying contingency plans and boosting liquidity by end-December.
Conclusion
The political crisis in South Korea has reached a critical point, with the president under criminal investigation and his party’s decision to delegate presidential authority to the prime minister plunging the country into a constitutional crisis.
FAQs
Q: What is the current situation with President Yoon Suk-yeol?
A: President Yoon Suk-yeol is still commander in chief and there is no disruption to the US alliance, but his grip on power is uncertain due to dissent among senior military officers and his own party’s decision to delegate presidential authority to the prime minister.
Q: What is the reason for the impeachment vote?
A: The impeachment vote was triggered by President Yoon’s decision to declare martial law and grant the military sweeping powers, which was met with widespread opposition and criticism.
Q: What is the current state of the economy?
A: The economy is facing uncertainty due to the political crisis, but the finance ministry and regulators are making efforts to stabilise financial markets and boost liquidity.
Q: What is the US stance on the situation?
A: The US has expressed support for the democratic process in South Korea and has urged the country to resolve the crisis peacefully.