South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has vowed to “never give up” after the opposition-led parliament succeeded in a second attempt to impeach him over his brief declaration of martial law earlier this month, putting at least a temporary pause on the political chaos enveloping Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
All 300 lawmakers from the country’s National Assembly participated in the vote Dec. 14, with 204 supporting the removal of the president for committing “insurrectionary acts” and “abandoning the duty to protect the constitution.” A total of 85 voted against the motion, while three abstained and eight ballots were deemed invalid.
With the measure’s passage, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will serve as a caretaker leader — though Yoon will still remain in office – while the country’s Constitutional Court deliberates whether to remove or reinstate him within 180 days.
But while Yoon said he was “pausing for now,” the embattled leader pledged not to end his fight to remain in his post.
“I will never give up,” he said in a televised address from his office. “I will embrace all the censure, encouragement and support directed at me and do my best for the nation until the end.” (The Japan Times)
毎週届く！
