Son Min

Hong Min-seong, Hankyung.com Reporter mshong@hankyung.com

It has been revealed that $21.67 billion has been deposited in the global crypto exchange Binance. On the 13th (local time), Unfolded announced on X, "This year, crypto users have deposited $21.67 billion in Binance." This figure surpasses the total deposits of the 2nd to 11th ranked crypto exchanges combined this year.

Hong Min-sung Hankyung.com Reporter mshong@hankyung.com

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 14th, following the passage of the impeachment motion in the National Assembly, "I will never give up." In a message distributed immediately after the National Assembly's plenary session, President Yoon said, "Although I am pausing for a moment now, the journey towards the future that I have walked with the people for the past two and a half years must never stop," he declared. President Yoon emphasized, "I will hold in my heart all the criticism, encouragement, and support directed at me and do my utmost for the country until the last moment," and urged, "Let us all unite for the freedom, democracy, and prosperity of the Republic of Korea." He appealed to public officials, saying, "It is a difficult and challenging time, but please fulfill your duties without wavering, maintaining your positions," and asked, "Centered around the acting president, let everyone unite to do their best to protect the safety and happiness of the people." To the political community, he said, "Please focus your interest and efforts on improving the political culture and system so that we can shift from politics of runaway and confrontation to politics of deliberation and consideration." Below is the full statement from President Yoon Suk-yeol Dear citizens, Watching the passage of the impeachment motion in the National Assembly today, I recalled June 29, 2021, when I first declared my participation in politics. The freedom, democracy, and rule of law in this country were crumbling. The despair of small business owners and the frustration of young people were filling the entire country. With that fervent national desire, I jumped into politics. Since then, I have worked tirelessly, putting all my energy into it. As president, meeting the people on the ground, I found small business owners and self-employed people screaming due to the previous administration's income-led growth policy, and young people and ordinary citizens groaning under the burden of real estate loans. However, when I calmly listened to their difficult situations and gradually solved the problems, I felt immense happiness. As exports revived and the economy regained vitality, I was energized by the spreading warmth. I restored the collapsed nuclear power ecosystem and even achieved nuclear power exports. I have been urgently pushing forward the four major reforms that were essential for the future but avoided by previous governments due to election concerns. When the policies I contemplated and pursued for the people were hindered, I was tormented and lost sleep. I worked day and night to restore the Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation and expand the horizons of global diplomacy. When I traveled the world with the title of Korea's No. 1 salesperson and achieved results, I felt an indescribable sense of accomplishment. As Korea's international standing rose and our security and economy strengthened, I forgot my fatigue. Now, the journey that was arduous but happy, difficult but rewarding, has paused for a moment. I am concerned that the efforts so far might come to nothing. Although I am pausing for a moment now, the journey towards the future that I have walked with the people for the past two and a half years must never stop. I will never give up. I will hold in my heart all the criticism, encouragement, and support directed at me, and do my utmost for the country until the last moment. To public officials, I urge you to fulfill your duties without wavering, maintaining your positions during this difficult and challenging time. Centered around the acting president, let everyone unite to do their best to protect the safety and happiness of the people. And to the political community, I urge you to focus your interest and efforts on improving the political culture and system so that we can shift from politics of runaway and confrontation to politics of deliberation and consideration. Dear citizens, I believe in the potential of our people. Let us all unite for the freedom, democracy, and prosperity of the Republic of Korea. Thank you. Do Byung-wook, Reporter dodo@hankyung.com

Shin Hyunbo, Hankyung.com Reporter greaterfool@hankyung.com

Democratic Party: "Ruling Party's Support Votes Fall Short of Expectations" Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, stated to Democratic Party lawmakers on the 14th, after the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol was passed in the National Assembly plenary session, "This is not yet a victory." Roh Jong-myeon, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, told reporters after the Democratic Party's general meeting that day, "The leader mentioned that a conflict situation requiring careful response could continue for a considerable period," and added, "The appearance of a responsible and trustworthy Democratic Party and National Assembly is important." When asked by reporters what Lee's statement of 'not a victory' meant, Roh explained, "It can be a victory in terms of reflecting the will of the sovereign, but it is not a victory for politicians or lawmakers of a particular party." He further stated, "While the result that the people wanted has come out, it can be celebrated, but it can also be misinterpreted and misunderstood." Roh also mentioned, "The leader said that the energy from the square should be used as a driving force for positive changes in our society," and added, "We are realizing through this opportunity that it is important to routinely reflect the demands of the sovereign in politics." The Democratic Party evaluated the ruling party's defection votes during the impeachment motion vote against President Yoon as "far below expectations." The vote that day resulted in 204 in favor, 85 against, 3 abstentions, and 8 invalid votes, passing the impeachment motion against President Yoon. Roh stated, "It fell far short of the numbers expected by the people and was slightly lower than what the floor leadership had assessed." Reporter Bae Seong-su Reporter Jeong Sang-won

On the afternoon of the 14th, during the vote on the 'Impeachment Motion Against President Yoon Suk-yeol', the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol was passed. Out of a total of 300 votes, 204 were in favor, 85 against, 3 abstentions, and 8 invalid votes. With the impeachment motion passed in the National Assembly, the Constitutional Court plans to begin deliberations as soon as the resolution is received. According to the Constitutional Court Act, the court must make a final decision on whether to uphold the impeachment within 180 days of receiving the case. However, the actual deliberation period is expected to be shorter. In the case of former President Roh Moo-hyun, the decision was made in 63 days, and for former President Park Geun-hye, it took 91 days.

The vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol has concluded. All 300 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties participated in the vote. The counting of votes to determine the impeachment outcome is currently underway.

The National Assembly will convene a plenary session on the 14th to vote on the second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol. The voting is expected to take about 40 to 50 minutes. The results are anticipated to be announced approximately an hour after the voting begins. The National Assembly opened the plenary session at 4:05 PM and tabled the 'Impeachment Motion Against President Yoon Suk-yeol.' The vote will be conducted anonymously. On the 12th, six opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, submitted the second impeachment motion to the National Assembly, claiming that 'President Yoon abused his martial law proclamation authority on the 3rd to disrupt the constitutional order by mobilizing armed military and police for an armed rebellion (leader), abandoning his duty to uphold the Constitution, and committing significant unconstitutional and illegal acts in his official duties.' The first impeachment motion was invalidated due to a lack of quorum when members of the People Power Party collectively abstained from the plenary session on the 7th. As a result, the ballot box was not opened, and the motion was discarded. On this day, the People Power Party decided to participate in the vote while maintaining its 'opposition to impeachment' party line. Kim Dae-sik, the chief spokesperson, stated during a briefing after the party's general meeting at the National Assembly, "We have just decided two things through a lengthy general meeting. First, the People Power Party will participate in this vote. Second, the party line is to oppose the motion." There is a prevailing expectation that the impeachment motion will pass as some members of the ruling party are expected to cast dissenting votes against the party line. The impeachment motion will be passed if more than two-thirds of the total members (300) agree. If all 192 opposition members agree and more than eight members from the People Power Party cast affirmative votes, the motion will pass the plenary session. If the impeachment motion is rejected, the opposition plans to propose it again. If the impeachment motion is passed, President Yoon's authority will be suspended until the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial decision, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will transition to the 'acting president' system. Shin Hyun-bo, Hankyung.com reporter greaterfool@hankyung.com

Hong Min-seong, Hankyung.com Reporter

It was reported that the daily active users of cryptocurrencies in December reached 18.7 million. On the 13th (local time), Cointelegraph reported via X that "the daily active users of cryptocurrencies in December reached 18.79 million," stating "this is more than double the figure from early this year, which was 7.7 million."

Kwon Seong-dong: "Currently, the possibility of changing the 'opposition' party line is not high" The People Power Party is expected to participate in the second impeachment vote against President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 14th. However, there is ongoing debate on whether to discard the initially set 'opposition to impeachment' party line. According to political circles on the 14th, People Power Party lawmakers have agreed to 'participate' in the impeachment vote against President Yoon, which will be held at the National Assembly plenary session at 4 PM. Floor leader Kwon Seong-dong stated at the lawmakers' meeting held that morning, "Let's attend the vote confidently. This is an honest attitude towards the people," adding, "I personally suggest attending the vote." Senior lawmaker Joo Ho-young, who serves as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, also said, "There are many stories, but it seems we are leaning towards participating in today's vote." However, the 'opposition to impeachment' party line is likely to be maintained. Kwon told reporters during the afternoon lawmakers' meeting, "Once it is confirmed, we will announce it then," but added, "As of now, I don't think the party line is likely to change." The People Power Party has been discussing the change of the party line since 10 AM, but no conclusion has been reached yet. For the People Power Party to change its party line, more than two-thirds of the lawmakers must agree. However, considering that floor leader Kwon, categorized as 'pro-Yoon', was elected with 72 votes at the lawmakers' meeting on the 12th, it is predicted that the possibility of changing the 'opposition' party line is not high. Lee Seul-ki, Hankyung.com reporter seulkee@hankyung.com