The government party rejects the vote, but Han emphasizes that he “respects” the result and “suspends his functions” pending the decision of the Constitutional Court.
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun is charged with insurrection for his alleged role in declaring martial law
MADRID, 27 (EUROPA PRESS)
The National Assembly of South Korea approved this Friday an impeachment motion against the interim president, Han Duck Soo, who had been in office for two weeks, when he replaced the president, Yoon Suk Yeol, removed for his controversial decision to impose the Martial law in the Asian country.
The impeachment against Han has been approved with 192 votes in favor and none against, after the president of the National Assembly, Woo Won Shik, decided that the motion could be approved with a simple majority, as reported by the agency. South Korean news outlet Yonhap.
Thus, Woo rejected the arguments of the government party, the People’s Power Party (PPP), that the case be treated as an ‘impeachment’ of a president, which required a two-thirds majority, which was equivalent to 200 supports.
In fact, the PPP has protested against the vote and has assured that the result is invalid, arguing that the simple majority is used for impeachment motions against ministers, not against presidents. However, Han has since said he “respects” the decision.
“In order not to add more confusion and uncertainty, I suspend my functions, in line with the relevant laws, and I await a quick and wise decision from the Constitutional Court,” Han said in a statement, referring to the fact that the court must validate the measure. , just as it has to do even with Yoon’s dismissal.
Han, who is also prime minister, thus becomes the first interim president to be removed from office in the history of South Korea. After the success of the motion, the position should be assumed by the Minister of Finance, Choi Sang Mok, according to the legislation of the Asian country.
The opposition Democratic Party (DP), which has 170 of the 300 seats in Parliament, tabled the motion on Thursday after Han said he would not appoint any Constitutional Court judge to fill the three vacant seats in the body — with a total of nine members– until the political parties reach a political compromise.
The PD had already threatened to present this motion if the interim president did not approve the nominations, which will be voted on in the National Assembly, a process of special relevance in the current context, since the court must validate Yoon’s dismissal. , approved by Parliament after the imposition of martial law.
Yoon, who justified the surprise declaration of martial law by the existence of “anti-state forces” that were trying to reverse the democratic order, plans to explain his position before the Constitutional judges, according to his defense, thus being the first in the country’s history to do it.
IMPUTATION OF A FORMER MINISTER
On the other hand, the Prosecutor’s Office has charged former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun this Friday with insurrection due to his alleged role in the imposition of martial law, amid suspicions that he was the one who recommended Yoon announce the measure, after which He led the deployment of troops to the National Assembly.
The Prosecutor’s Special Investigation Team has charged Kim, the first to face charges in connection with the case, for abuse of power and for his “integral” role in an act of insurrection.
Kim was detained on December 17 along with the head of the Armed Forces, General Park An Su; the head of the Intelligence Services, Yeo In Hyung; the head of the Army Special Warfare Command, Kwak Jong Keun; and the head of the Capital Defense Command, Kee Jin Woo.
In addition, the Police have carried out a raid on a home owned by the Presidency in which Yoon would have met with senior officials of the force to discuss his plans to impose martial law, with the aim of obtaining the content of the cameras. security to identify the participants in the meeting.
The Police have stressed that they are also trying to carry out a simultaneous raid on the headquarters of the Presidential Security Service, located in the presidential complex, although they have indicated that the investigators are being prevented from entering, without for now there being any. more details.
Yoon, who has apologized for what happened, continues to defend his decision, adopted in order to “protect” the country against “forces contrary to the State.” Thus, he maintained on December 7 that the decision was “a nation of desperation” and assured that he will not evade his “legal and political responsibility.”
“I leave it in the hands of the party to discover how to stabilize the political situation, even during my mandate,” argued the then president in his first public appearance after the events, when he refused to resign. Finally, the National Assembly approved his dismissal in a second attempt, after the first failed.