Han: "Yoon said no special measures"... Will 8 votes from the ruling party decide impeachment fate?

One-hour private meeting between President Yoon and Representative Han Dong-hoon, what was discussed?

To prevent impeachment, "must suspend duties"

Han's sudden change in stance leads to Yoon meeting request

"Didn't hear anything to overturn judgment"

Han: "Must explain stance directly to the public"

President Yoon: "It's not the time yet"

After the meeting, Han: "My opinion is suspension of duties"

Ahn Cheol-soo: "Will support impeachment if not resigned"

Even with pro-Han votes, it could pass

The potentially last bilateral meeting between President Yoon Suk-yeol and Han Dong-hoon, representative of the People Power Party, during Yoon's term ended without results. At the meeting, Representative Han demanded explanations regarding the plan to detain politicians during the martial law declaration, but President Yoon reportedly did not provide satisfactory answers other than stating he did not give specific orders. Consequently, it is observed that the impeachment motion supported by the pro-Han faction and the subsequent suspension of President Yoon's duties have entered an unavoidable procedure.

What did Yoon and Han discuss?

The two met at around 1 PM on the 6th at the Yongsan presidential office. The meeting was held at President Yoon's request, with Jin-seok Jeong, the chief of staff of the presidential office, and Ju Jin-woo, a member of the People Power Party, reportedly present. The meeting lasted about an hour.

After the meeting, Representative Han returned to the National Assembly and reportedly stated at the People Power Party's general assembly that President Yoon said he did not give specific instructions related to martial law and the detention of politicians. In response to Han's demand that "it has been a long time since December 3rd (when martial law was declared), so he must explain directly to the public," President Yoon replied, "It's not the time yet. I will not take any special measures for now."

Representative Han said, "I did not hear anything from the President that would overturn this judgment (the need for suspension of duties)." He emphasized to the ruling party members, "(President Yoon) must be suspended from duties," and "without special measures, the situation cannot be resolved." He added, "The Choi Soon-sil case involved close aides, but this case involves declaring martial law against the public and entering the National Assembly with the military."

Finally, Representative Han stated, "Now is the time to make a responsible decision," adding, "The public is anxious that such an event might happen again, and this must be resolved."

Are ruling party members leaning towards 'supporting impeachment'?

The meeting between President Yoon and Representative Han was held unexpectedly. Representative Han mentioned the need for President Yoon's suspension of duties at an emergency supreme council meeting and then attended the general assembly, leaving midway. It is said within and outside the party that "he must have been contacted by the presidential office right after the general assembly started."

This indicates that President Yoon and his aides were quite taken aback by Representative Han's change in stance. Initially, the presidential office planned to release additional messages related to the martial law declaration only after the impeachment motion vote scheduled for the 7th. However, as Representative Han made statements contrary to the party's stance of 'opposing the impeachment motion,' a bilateral meeting was hastily arranged without a prepared message.

Even after the meeting, as Representative Han solidified his stance on 'early resignation of President Yoon,' the possibility of the impeachment motion passing in the plenary session on the 7th has increased. While senior and pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Suk-yeol) lawmakers still hold the opinion that 'fact-finding should come first,' the call for the swift suspension of the President's duties is spreading among pro-Yoon and junior lawmakers.

Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, has effectively solidified his support for impeachment by stating, "If he does not resign by tomorrow (7th), I will support impeachment." Cho Kyung-tae, another member of the People Power Party, also expressed the opinion that "it is better to quickly suspend the President's duties and have a new government take over." For the impeachment motion to be passed, it requires the support of at least two-thirds of the total members, which is 200 or more. If more than 8 of the 108 ruling party members cast a supporting vote, the impeachment motion will be passed.

A ruling party official conveyed the atmosphere, stating, "Opinions differ among lawmakers, regardless of factions like pro-Yoon or pro-Han," and "even if the ruling party unites, it is difficult to prevent impeachment, and as internal discord grows, the expectation that the impeachment motion will pass is spreading."

Reporters Noh Kyung-mok/Park Joo-yeon grumpy_cat@hankyung.com