South Korea's ruling party to oppose president's impeachment amidst martial law

A political storm is brewing in South Korea as the ruling People Power Party has decided to vote against the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol amidst a controversial declaration of martial law.

With just two years left in Yoon's five-year term, the opposition is intensifying its push to oust the president, citing his botched attempt to impose martial law, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

On December 5, opposition lawmakers from the Democratic Party announced plans to vote this weekend on an impeachment motion aimed at President Yoon. This follows his controversial declaration of martial law on December 3, which sought to consolidate power, ban political activities, and censor the media in Asia’s fourth-largest economy. Yoon's move has sparked widespread outrage both within South Korea and among international allies, leading to calls for his removal from office.

The impeachment motion requires at least eight of the 108 ruling party lawmakers to support it in order to meet the two-thirds majority needed in the 300-seat National Assembly. However, no lawmakers from the ruling party were present when the motion was introduced early Thursday morning, signaling a deep divide within the government.

The aftermath of Yoon’s declaration was chaotic, with military forces storming the National Assembly in an effort to enforce the decree. Armed troops attempted to breach the parliament building, only retreating after aides sprayed them with fire extinguishers. Opposition lawmakers, undeterred, broke through barricades and climbed fences to access the voting chamber. Eventually, 190 lawmakers managed to evade police lines and voted to reject the martial law order.

Tensions reached a boiling point outside the parliament, where thousands of protesters gathered at the gates. One dramatic moment was captured on video, showing a woman grabbing a soldier's gun during the standoff.

In the wake of the incident, South Korea's Defence Minister, who had advised the president on the martial law plan, resigned, adding to the pressure on Yoon’s administration.

By Khagan Isayev