Accelerating Yoon's Impeachment Train... Vote in Plenary Session Today or Tomorrow [Comprehensive]

Han Dong-hoon, Effectively Withdraws 'Opposition to Impeachment' Party Line

Impeachment Motion Against Yoon Passes Plenary Session with Just '8 Votes' from the Ruling Party

Democratic Party May Move Up Impeachment Vote to the 6th

The 'impeachment train' against President Yoon Suk-yeol, initiated by the Democratic Party of Korea and six other opposition parties, is accelerating. This comes as the People Power Party, which had adopted 'opposition to impeachment' as its party line, effectively withdrew this stance on the 6th. The National Assembly is expected to hold a plenary session on the 6th or 7th to proceed with the voting process on the impeachment motion.

Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, held an emergency supreme council meeting at the National Assembly and stated, "Yesterday, I said I would try to prevent this impeachment from passing to avoid harm to the public and supporters due to unprepared chaos. However, considering newly revealed facts, I believe it is necessary to promptly suspend President Yoon's duties to protect the Republic of Korea and its people."

Regarding the 'newly revealed facts,' he explained, "Last night, it was confirmed through reliable sources that on the day martial law was declared, President Yoon instructed Yeon In-hyung, a counterintelligence commander and his high school junior, to arrest key politicians, labeling them as anti-state forces. It was also confirmed that the president mobilized intelligence agencies to arrest politicians and that there was a concrete plan to detain these politicians at a detention facility in Gwacheon."

He announced the withdrawal of the 'opposition to impeachment' party line, which had been adopted with applause the previous day, and declared a re-discussion.

Accordingly, the People Power Party convened an emergency general meeting of lawmakers at 11 a.m. Chu Kyung-ho, the floor leader, announced the emergency meeting would be held in the conference room of the Budget and Accounts Committee at the National Assembly's main building. The meeting is expected to discuss the vote on President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment motion.

Within the People Power Party, a lawmaker publicly declared support for the impeachment. Cho Kyung-tae, a six-term senior lawmaker classified as pro-Yoon, stated, "The act of declaring martial law itself is unconstitutional and illegal," and "The president's duties should be suspended quickly."

Meeting with reporters at the National Assembly, Cho said, "Politicians must decide whether to stand with the people through the suspension of the president's duties or become collaborators of the forces that declared martial law," and "I hope the politicians of the People Power Party stand with the people."

The quorum for the impeachment motion against President Yoon is 'at least two-thirds of the total members,' which is 200 seats. If all opposition seats, including the Democratic Party, are combined, it totals 192 seats, meaning the impeachment motion can pass with just 8 or more votes in favor from the People Power Party.

The Democratic Party initially planned to hold a plenary session on the 7th and proceed with the impeachment vote between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. However, if more lawmakers from the People Power Party support the impeachment, there is a possibility that the voting schedule could be moved up.

The Democratic Party is scheduled to hold an emergency general meeting of lawmakers at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the timing of the impeachment vote.

Seulkee Lee, Hankyung.com reporter seulkee@hankyung.com