South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party filed a second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday, increasing the chances of his removal from office, Bloomberg reports.
The move follows Yoon’s defiant speech earlier in the day, in which he defended his controversial declaration of martial law last week and vowed to fight any impeachment efforts.
The Democratic Party requires 200 votes in parliament to succeed. A previous impeachment attempt failed last Saturday after Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote. This time, however, the prospects are brighter.
The opposition needs at least eight votes from ruling party members to reach the required threshold. At least seven PPP lawmakers have indicated their support for impeachment, suggesting the motion has a realistic chance of passing.
PPP leader Han Dong-hoon earlier declared impeachment the only viable path to remove Yoon, further signaling a potential shift within the ruling party. After Yoon’s speech, Han urged party members to swiftly proceed with the suspension of the president.
President Yoon is battling to retain his position following his surprise declaration of martial law, a move that triggered political turmoil, market instability, and widespread public anger.
A successful impeachment motion would lead to a Constitutional Court case, lasting up to 180 days. If the court rules against Yoon, he would be forced from office, triggering a presidential election within two months. The South Korean won showed little reaction to the news, trading down a minor 0.2% against the US dollar.
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