Impeachment motion against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol fails

The presidential impeachment motion against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has failed, according to a report by AFP.

The motion, introduced by the main opposition Democratic Party had been brought about in the aftermath of his short-lived attempt to impose martial law in the Asian country.

The vote did not meet the 200-votes mark required to pass an impeachment motion. The South Korean parliament has 300 seats, of which the opposition parties who filed the motion control 192.

PPP lawmakers walk out

“With a total of 195 votes, the number of members who voted did not reach the required two-thirds majority of the total members. Therefore, I declare that the vote on this matter is not valid,” National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik said.

The impeachment motion failed after lawmakers from South Korea’s ruling party People’s Power Party boycotted the vote by walking out of the parliament.

Before announcing the result of the vote, in which only three PPP members cast ballots, Woo Won-shik appealed to PPP lawmakers to return and cast their votes “to protect the Republic of Korea and its democracy”.

More from World

Nepal's new PM pays homage to people died during the Gen Z protest in her first national address This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

“I say once again: Please participate in the vote,” he said, adding that it was “our fundamental duty” as lawmakers.

Before the vote, Yoon, 63, had apologised for the turmoil and said he would leave it to his party to decide his fate.

Frustration among South Koreans

The outcome is likely to infuriate people– nearly 150,000 according to police, and close to a million according to organisers– demonstrating outside the parliament for Yoon’s ouster.

Gasps of frustration, shouts of rage, and tears were already a prominent sight in the crowd as they rued the potential outcome while watching ruling party members walk out. Some demonstrators booed while some sighed at the sight.

With inputs from AFP