With South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment looking more likely, analysts say there is a higher chance of the main opposition party rising to power – and it could take a more “conciliatory approach” to China.
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But they had mixed views on how Seoul’s foreign policy and its relations with Beijing – which are in a stalemate under Yoon – might unfold if a new leader is elected.
On Thursday, South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said it would vote on Saturday for an impeachment motion against Yoon over his declaration of martial law on Tuesday. The martial law decree was lifted six hours later after 190 lawmakers unanimously voted to reject Yoon’s move.
The DP and five other opposition parties submitted the motion on Wednesday, arguing Yoon’s martial law declaration was a violation of the constitution and laws. They said they would file the motion again if it was blocked in parliament.
Ruling conservative People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon initially said he would block the motion but on Friday he reversed that stance, saying Yoon needed to be swiftly suspended from exercising power.
A two-thirds majority – 200 out of 300 members – is required to pass a motion in the National Assembly. With the opposition camp holding a total of 192 seats, it would need at least eight votes from the ruling PPP.
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If lawmakers vote to impeach Yoon, he will be immediately suspended from office and the prime minister will become acting president. A trial will then be held in the Constitutional Court, and the president will be impeached if six or more of the nine members of the court vote to sustain the motion.