'Yoon Impeachment Bill' Ultimately Discarded... Lack of Quorum Due to Mass Absence of Ruling Party

The impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol, which was submitted to the National Assembly's plenary session, was ultimately discarded automatically on the 7th. The vote itself could not be established due to a lack of quorum, as 105 members of the People Power Party did not participate in the vote on President Yoon's impeachment motion.

Speaker Woo Won-shik of the National Assembly concluded the vote on President Yoon's impeachment motion, which was submitted to the plenary session, at around 9:20 PM. Out of 195 members present, there were 192 votes in favor and 3 against.

Thus, the impeachment motion against President Yoon was automatically discarded. Although 192 opposition party members, including those from the Democratic Party, and 3 members from the People Power Party, totaling 195, participated in the vote, it fell short of the required quorum of 200 seats (two-thirds of the total members) needed to process the impeachment motion.

Earlier, except for Representative Ahn Cheol-soo, members of the People Power Party collectively left the plenary session after voting on the so-called 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act' to avoid participating in the vote on President Yoon's impeachment motion. Representative Ahn cast a vote against the impeachment motion.

Subsequently, People Power Party members Kim Ye-ji and Kim Sang-wook returned to the plenary session to participate in the vote on President Yoon's impeachment motion. Representative Kim Ye-ji voted in favor, while Representative Kim Sang-wook voted against.

Opposition party members completed the vote on President Yoon's impeachment motion around 7 PM, but Speaker Woo did not conclude the meeting, urging ruling party members to participate in the vote. However, the ruling party members ultimately did not return to the plenary session, and Speaker Woo concluded the vote.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party plans to re-submit the impeachment motion against President Yoon. They intend to re-submit and vote on the impeachment motion immediately at the extraordinary session of the National Assembly on the 11th, after the regular session concludes on the 10th.

Reporter Bae Seong-su baebae@hankyung.com