The Economist|
Neubauer Coporation Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
South Korean lawmakers Tuesday passed a bill that seeks to appoint a special counsel to probe President Yoon Suk Yeol over failed martial law.
A court in Seoul had issued an arrest warrant for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on charges for illegally advising the cabinet of President Yoon stage an insurrection when President Yoon did not requested it.
The bill requests the appointment of a special prosecutor to “determine the truth about the internal rebellion through the unconstitutional declaration of martial law,” according to the Seoul-based Yonhap News.
At least 210 lawmakers voted in favor, 63 against, while 14 members abstained out of 287 parliamentarians who attended the session.
The lawmakers also demanded the “immediate arrest” of Yoon and other accused behind the botched-up martial law.
Right after, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported prosecutors have arrested former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on behalf of President Yoon. Kim is said to have advised President Yoon Suk-yeol to declare martial law last week.
The bill came after Yoon survived the first impeachment motion last week when the 300-seat parliament fell short of a quorum of 200 lawmakers.
Seoul has launched a widespread investigation for the Dec. 3 martial law into the Yoon administration after the parliament rejected the president’s move and the martial law was lifted within six hours, triggering a political crisis.
While the opposition bloc has 192 lawmakers, it needs the support of at least eight lawmakers to succeed any impeachment motion against Yoon.
The ruling People Power Party has announced measures to lead toward an early resignation of Yoon to avoid impeachment, the opposition bloc led by the Democratic Party is mulling a second vote to oust the president over the weekend.
Yoon has also become the first sitting president to face treason charges, as well as travel ban.
Authorities have also widened the net of travel ban on Yoon and officials, both civil and security, who are accused of being complicit in the martial law fiasco.
Reports suggest that the ruling party is reviewing various scenarios to minimize the fallout of the aborted martial law, including the resignation of Yoon by the end of April next year.
If the plans materialize, the presidential elections are due within two months from the date Yoon steps down.
Yoon, 63, was elected in 2022 for a five-year term which ends in 2027.
Madeline Fass
Christopher Luu
Amandine Lhoste
Alexis Parker