A dramatic attempt to impeach South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has failed after members of his ruling party staged a walkout from the National Assembly.
The move came just hours after President Yoon issued a public apology for his actions, which had sparked the impeachment motion.
The impeachment process was triggered by the president’s controversial decision to impose martial law, following a political crisis within his own party.
However, when the vote on the impeachment motion began, members of Yoon’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) began leaving the assembly in large numbers.
The walkout left the assembly too underpopulated to meet the required quorum for the vote to pass.
To succeed, the motion needed the support of at least two-thirds of the 300-member National Assembly, or 200 votes. For this to happen, the opposition needed to win over at least eight members from the PPP.
But as the debate unfolded, almost all of the PPP members abandoned the floor, preventing the vote from proceeding.
The remaining lawmakers in the hall could not reach the necessary majority, and the impeachment bid collapsed in a dramatic turn of events.
“I am very sorry, I sincerely apologise to the people who must have been very surprised,” President Yoon said in a televised address earlier that morning. He added that the martial law declaration had been “born of desperation” and lasted only a few hours.
His apology was part of an effort to calm the nation, which had been shocked by the government’s military action in response to internal party disputes.
“I will not avoid legal charges, and there will be no second martial law,” Yoon reassured the public.
The martial law crisis was sparked when tensions within the PPP escalated. Amid an internal party rebellion, Yoon declared martial law in a bid to restore control over the situation.
The decision, however, was widely criticized for being an overreach of presidential power. Critics argued that it threatened South Korea’s democratic principles.
The opposition, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, quickly seized on the declaration to launch the impeachment proceedings.
They argued that Yoon’s actions were illegal and dangerous, threatening the country’s stability.
However, the impeachment motion hit a major roadblock when the ruling party decided to walk out of the National Assembly.
PPP lawmakers, including senior party members, staged the dramatic exit just as the vote was set to take place. The walkout left the opposition with no choice but to wait, hoping for defections from the ruling party.
PPP politician Shin Dong-uk defended the party’s decision, insisting that the party had not actively prevented its members from participating in the vote.
“We did not try to stop anyone from voting,” Shin said. “The PPP believes there is a more orderly and responsible way to resolve this crisis, one that does not involve impeachment.”
The PPP’s stance appears to reflect a desire to avoid further political turmoil, with the party signaling a preference for dialogue over confrontation.
Despite the failure of the impeachment motion, the political crisis in South Korea is far from over. The country remains divided over President Yoon’s leadership and the controversy surrounding his declaration of martial law.
Opposition lawmakers expressed frustration over the walkout, with some accusing the PPP of attempting to shield Yoon from accountability.
“The walkout was a clear attempt to avoid responsibility,” said one opposition member, speaking to Sky News. “The president must answer for his actions, and the public deserves a real debate on this matter.”
The PPP’s walkout has led to widespread debate about the state of South Korea’s democracy. Some fear that the ruling party’s refusal to allow a full debate signals a troubling disregard for checks and balances.
While President Yoon’s apology may have defused some tensions, many critics argue that the failure of the impeachment vote leaves unresolved issues regarding his leadership.
“Impeachment may have failed, but the damage has been done,” said a political analyst in Seoul. “Yoon’s actions have raised serious concerns about his ability to lead. The crisis is far from over.”
