Political turmoil to intensify after botched impeachment vote

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, left, and ruling People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon bow to the public at the party headquarters in Seoul, Sunday, after delivering a joint address about their plans for state management and removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law. Yonhap

The National Assembly’s scrapped vote to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol is increasing uncertainties in the nation’s politics and society rather than subduing the confusion stemming from his short-lived martial law.

The ruling party is promising Yoon’s early resignation and exclusion from his duties but without details or a specific timeline, while the opposition bloc is calling such plans unconstitutional and pledging to keep seeking impeachment until it is passed.

Ruling People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo issued addresses together, Sunday, on how to stabilize the situation and manage state affairs in an effort to ease concerns of the public and the international community as the nation grapples with the fallout from Yoon’s martial law fiasco.

Their announcement came a day after Yoon escaped an impeachment vote as the motion was scrapped without a ballot count, as it fell short of quorum after all but three PPP lawmakers boycotted the vote.

The two Hans said they agree on the public opinion that Yoon should be removed from the post because it is impossible for him to lead the country properly during his remaining term, set to end May 2027.

“Through Yoon’s early and orderly exit from office, we will minimize confusion, stabilize the political situation and properly establish free democracy," the PPP leader said. "The president will effectively be excluded from his duties, including foreign policy and other state affairs, and the prime minister will consult with the party to ensure that the administration of state affairs proceeds without any disruptions.”

He added, “I will hold regular talks with the prime minister at least once a week to discuss livelihood issues as well as the economy, foreign affairs and defense. The investigation into the political turmoil will be thorough, impartial and transparent for any individual, including the president.”

He stressed that Yoon’s martial law declaration was clearly an unconstitutional act.

However, he did not elaborate on what an “orderly resignation” means, how much the president will be excluded from his duties and when the "early departure" will be.

The prime minister, for his part, said he would make efforts to swiftly stabilize the political turmoil.

“The most important thing to do is to ensure that chaos doesn’t disrupt the people’s livelihoods. In this time of crisis, it is essential that the government’s budget proposal and related bills pass the National Assembly to ensure stable governance. Once the budget is finalized, ministries can begin executing necessary measures to restore the economy and support citizens,” he said.

“The international situation is becoming increasingly uncertain. Firmly maintaining the Korea-U.S. alliance and trilateral security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan is a very big and crucial task.”

The two Hans’ address, however, immediately faced protest from the opposition bloc, which said their proposal and pledges were as unconstitutional and illegal as Yoon’s martial law declaration.

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Sunday, criticizing the ruling bloc's plan for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and ruling People Power Party head Han Dong-hoon to take charge of state affairs from President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yonhap

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) rejected the PPP’s plans and called for the immediate arrest and investigation of Yoon.

“The two Hans’ announcement to share power while having Yoon step aside is another coup that violates the constitutional order. It’s absolutely mind-blowing how people can have such an outrageous imagination that ignores national sovereignty,” DPK leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung said.

“Yoon, the main culprit of the confrontation mentality against the Republic of Korea who committed a grave act of insurrection, must resign immediately or be impeached immediately. That is the only way to resolve this crisis. We will push for the impeachment vote again on Dec. 14.”

“A prime minister-led government until the president’s orderly exit is unconstitutional. The exclusion of an incumbent president from state affairs isn’t supported by the Constitution. A prime minister has no authority to appoint public officials, review presidential decrees, exercise diplomatic rights or command the Army," Rep. Kim Min-seok of the DPK said during a press conference.

He added the PPP leader doesn't have any authority to lead state affairs.

"PPP leader Han and the prime minister should be subject to investigation for colluding with Yoon, who led the insurrection. Yoon’s immediate impeachment is the only way to resolve the turmoil,” Kim said.

The DPK also called for depriving Yoon of his power to command the military, vowing to pass a special counsel probe over treason charges against the president and other officials. It said the opposition bloc will seek a revote for impeachment every week until it succeeds.

“It is the people's command to remove Yoon from office as soon as possible. People are demanding his immediate resignation, not his orderly resignation. If he does not resign voluntarily, we need to suspend his presidential duties through impeachment,” Rep. Han Min-soo, spokesperson of the DPK, said.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik speaks during an emergency press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap

Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik proposed talks between the ruling and opposition parties to immediately suspend Yoon's presidential duties. He also said the proposals by the PPP chief and the prime minister violate the Constitution.

"Granting power to the president and transition of power come from the people, and the procedures must follow the Constitution and the principles of national sovereignty," Woo said.

Experts pointed out that the joint address didn’t provide details on how Yoon will exit the office.

“I understand that they are trying to soothe public concerns. But the public won’t feel relieved unless they provide us details on how they’re going to run the country without the president or how Yoon is going to exit in an ‘orderly’ manner. If we impeach the president, we can feel reassured because it’s done by the system. But Han Dong-hoon’s argument of ‘Yoon’s orderly exit’ has no institutional basis. If the president changes his mind, he can come to the forefront at any time,” said Shin Yul, a professor of political science at Myongji University.

“The world now sees Korea as an unstable country. The martial law fiasco has dealt a massive blow to our economy and diplomacy. The best way is for Yoon to resign, or be impeached.”