Vote to impeach South Korean president fails after ruling party walkout

7 December 2024, 00:39 | Updated: 7 December 2024, 13:09

South Korea's president has survived an impeachment vote triggered by his shock attempt to impose martial law after a boycott from members of his party.

As parliament debated the motion, almost all of the ruling party's members left the hall, casting doubt on the chances of reaching the threshold for the bill to pass.

The opposition was left waiting for those from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) who left to join the vote, a day after its leader said the president should be suspended.

To pass, the bill needed support from two-thirds of the 300-member assembly, meaning the opposition needed at least eight from the PPP to side with them.

But when the first votes were cast, all but one of the PPP's members of parliament staged a walkout to shouts of anger from the opposition.

PPP politician Shin Dong-uk claimed his party did not try to prevent its members from voting.

The party said it would find a "more orderly, responsible" way to resolve the crisis than impeachment of the president.

It followed a broadcast on Saturday morning in which President Yoon Suk Yeol apologised for the "anxiety" and "inconvenience" caused by his declaration of martial law, which was born of "desperation" and only lasted a few hours.

"I am very sorry, I sincerely apologise to the people who must have been very surprised," he said, adding he would not avoid legal charges and there will be no second martial law.

Though he survives the move to impeach him, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the liberal Democratic Party - the country's main opposition party - said he would not give up on punishing the president.

Who is the president who declared martial law?

The furore was sparked by the president's unexpected declaration late on Tuesday, giving the military sweeping emergency powers.

He claimed this was made to combat unspecified threats from "North Korean communist forces" and "to eradicate the shameless pro-North anti-state forces".

He rescinded the law within six hours after a huge public backlash, with protesters and opposition politicians calling for his impeachment.

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If the president were impeached, he would be suspended until a trial could be held at the Constitutional Court, while the prime minister would serve as acting leader.

Should he leave office, the constitution requires a presidential election to be held within 60 days of his departure.

(c) Sky News 2024: Vote to impeach South Korean president fails after ruling party walkout