UPDATED
South Korea: People’s power on verge of victory as President Yoon set to be impeached
President Yoon Suk-yeol broke his silence on December 12, delivering a speech to the nation in which he claimed his declaration of martial law on December 3 was simply a warning to the opposition and not intended as a revolt. Unsurprisingly, his ridiculous excuses backfired, with the leader of his People Power Party (PPP), Han Dong-hoon, criticising the speech as a confession of treason.
Yoon is completely isolated and his support base is rapidly collapsing. A new poll shows only 11% of respondents supporting Yoon, while 85% disapprove of his presidency. Despite this tremendous opposition, Yoon is refusing to resign and the pro-Yoon PPP faction of reactionary hardliners is clinging onto its anti-impeachment position.
Yoon, however, will almost certainly be impeached on December 14, when parliament sits again to vote on the matter. The PPP hardliners are committing political suicide by sticking with Yoon, and will surely be judged by the people as co-coup conspirators.
Further PPP turmoil
The PPP was forced to replace former parliamentary leader Choo Kyung-ho on December 12, following his resignation. Choo had been behind efforts to prevent Yoon’s impeachment at any cost. The pro-Han faction was unable to win the contest, with Kweon Seong-dong elected as the new parliamentary leader. Nevertheless, more PPP MPs are coming out in support of impeachment.
With seven PPP MPs having now publicly stated their support, parliament is just one vote away from obtaining the required two-thirds majority for impeachment (200 out of 300 votes). It is expected that when the opposition Democratic Party moves another impeachment motion in parliament on December 14, at least 10 PPP MPs will break ranks and join the opposition, given the anger and pressure they have been facing from constituents.
Yoon’s destiny is sealed
It is also expected that another million-strong mobilisation will coincide with the vote in parliament. December 14 will surely be Yoon’s final day in office.
Earlier this week, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyeon was detained and several army commanders suspended. Two police officials are set to be imprisoned for their role in Yoon’s self-coup. Yoon will likely follow the same path once impeached.
Yoon has clearly shown himself to be an enemy of South Korea’s democracy. But in spite of the surprise, shock and anxiety that his self-coup provoked, it appears that another candlelight revolution will triumph to save democracy — a further demonstration that genuine people’s power exists in the streets, not parliament.
Second martial law impeachment vote looms for S. Korean president
By AFP
December 13, 2024
Yoon's imposition of martial law plunged South Korea's vibrant and combative democracy into some of its worst political turmoil in years - Copyright AFP ANTHONY WALLACE
Hieun SHIN and Hailey JO
South Korea’s opposition leader warned his ruling party colleagues on Friday that “history will remember” if they do not back the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, with just over 24 hours until a vote to remove him from office.
Yoon’s short-lived imposition of South Korea’s first martial law in over four decades plunged the country’s vibrant and combative democracy into some of its worst political turmoil in years.
An attempt to remove him from office last Saturday failed when lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the impeachment motion.
But after a week of back-door politicking and a mounting investigation into Yoon and his inner circle, analysts now say the main opposition Democratic Party may have better luck with its second attempt.
Saturday’s impeachment vote will take place around 5:00 pm (0800 GMT), with Yoon charged with “insurrectionary acts undermining the constitutional order” for his martial law bid.
Two hundred votes are needed for it to pass, meaning opposition lawmakers must convince eight ruling party colleagues to defect.
On Friday, the leader of the Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, implored the PPP to support the president’s removal from office.
“What the lawmakers must protect is neither Yoon nor the ruling People Power Party but the lives of the people wailing out in the freezing streets,” Lee said.
“Please join in supporting the impeachment vote tomorrow. History will remember and record your choice.”
Two ruling party lawmakers supported the motion last week.
And as of Friday noon, seven ruling party lawmakers have pledged to support impeachment — leaving the vote on a knife edge.
But members of the opposition are confident they will get the votes.
Lawmaker Kim Min-seok said Friday he was “99 percent” sure the impeachment will pass.
– Ball with the court –
Should it pass, Yoon will be suspended from office while South Korea’s Constitutional Court deliberates.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will step in as the interim president during that time.
The court will then have 180 days to rule on Yoon’s future. If it backs his removal, Yoon will become the second president in South Korean history to be impeached.
There is also precedent for the court to block impeachment: in 2004, then-President Roh Moo-hyun was removed by parliament for alleged election law violations and incompetence.
But the Constitutional Court later reinstated him.
The court also currently only has six judges, meaning their decision would need to be unanimous.
And should the vote fail, Yoon can still face “legal responsibility” for the martial law bid, Kim Hyun-jung, a researcher at the Korea University Institute of Law, told AFP.
“This is clearly an act of insurrection,” she said.
“Even if the impeachment motion does not pass, the President’s legal responsibilities under the Criminal Code… cannot be avoided.”
– ‘So angry’ –
Yoon has remained unapologetic and defiant as the fallout from his disastrous martial law has deepened.
In a televised address, he vowed on Thursday to fight “until the very last minute” and doubled down on unsubstantiated claims the opposition was in league with the country’s communist foes.
Thousands have taken to the streets of Seoul since Yoon’s martial law declaration to demand his resignation and jailing.
Yoon’s approval rating — never very high — has plummeted to 11 percent, according to a Gallup Korea poll released Friday.
The same poll showed 75 percent now support his impeachment.
Protesters run the gamut of South Korean society — from K-pop fans waving glowsticks to retirees and blue-collar workers.
“Impeachment is a must and we must fight relentlessly,” Kim Sung-tae, a 52-year-old worker at a company that makes car parts, told AFP.
“We’re fighting for the restoration of democracy.”
Teacher Kim Hwan-ii agreed.
“I’m so angry that we all have to pay the price for electing this president.”
K-pop, carols, free food at South Korea impeachment protests
ByAFP
December 12, 2024
Demonstrators from a labour group take part in a protest calling for the ouster of South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol outside City Hall in Seoul - Copyright AFP ANTHONY WALLACE
Waving colourful glow sticks, singing parody songs and sporting elaborate outfits, demonstrators in Seoul this week calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s departure have highlighted South Korea’s unique and creative protest culture.
From mutual aid efforts to ensure protesters stay well fed to old-school exercise routines, AFP takes a look at what has been popular at the anti-Yoon protests:
– K-pop soundtrack –
From Seoul’s main square to the National Assembly building in the heart of the city, protests have sprung up across the South Korean capital after Yoon briefly suspended civilian rule last week.
Some rallies have resembled a dance party, with K-pop tunes blasting as participants leap around joyfully, waving colourful glow sticks and LED candles.
When the hit song “Whiplash” by K-pop girl group aespa filled the air at a demonstration three days after Yoon declared martial law, young protesters shouted while jumping: “Impeach, impeach, impeach Yoon Suk Yeol!” and “Resign, resign, resign Yoon Suk Yeol!” in tune to the music.
On Thursday night last week, the 2007 song “Into the New World” by K-pop group Girls’ Generation was sung by protesters holding lit candles in front of the National Assembly.
The upbeat debut single from the popular girl group speaks about a hopeful future and moving away from sad times.
The track gained significant traction from 2016 to 2017 among young women protesting conservative then-president Park Geun-hye, who was ultimately impeached over a corruption scandal.
“The current protest reflects the emergence of a new generation,” Kang Won-taek, political science professor at Seoul National University, told AFP on Thursday.
“When you consider K-pop culture, elements like light sticks and fandom have emerged recently, blending into this protest culture,” he said.
“It seems connected to the enjoyment and participatory aspect of these gatherings.”
– Carols, school memories –
An impeachment-themed Christmas carol by singer Baek Ja — a slightly tweaked version of the well-known “Feliz Navidad” — also went viral last week.
“Christmas is merry when Yoon Suk Yeol resigns,” the song’s lyrics go.
Last Wednesday night, in front of the National Assembly building, protesters carrying signs that said “Arrest (Yoon) immediately” and “Impeach”, waved lit candles and cellphones as the singer performed the song.
South Koreans also have cranked up nostalgic soundtracks.
The government introduced exercise classes in schools in the late 1970s, so many South Koreans who were at school in the 1980s and 1990s fondly remember the routines: simple, rhythmic movements set to upbeat music.
Since last week, protesters have performed the exercises to the familiar tune while chanting: “Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol.”
Many held glow sticks and wore padded jackets and hats to stave off the cold weather.
– Food for hungry protesters –
Some have taken to the internet to share spots where protesters can get something to eat or a hot drink — prepaid for by fellow Koreans supportive of their cause.
“I thought it was unbelievable that martial law was declared in a democratic country in 2024,” Yoon Iseo, who paid for 40 rolls of the rice and seaweed snack kimbap at a restaurant near the parliament, told AFP.
“As I reside in a provincial area and face health issues, it was difficult for me to attend the impeachment rally at the National Assembly in person,” Yoon said.
“I simply wanted to express my gratitude, even in a small way.”
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