Lee Jae-myung in Foreign Media Interview: "Is Yoon's Impeachment in Two Days or a Month Later?"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, made remarks on the 5th in a foreign media interview suggesting that the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol is only a matter of time.

Yonhap News

In an interview with Bloomberg News on the same day, Lee described the impeachment vote against President Yoon as a "fluid situation." This is interpreted as meaning that it will not be easy to secure support from the ruling party in the impeachment vote scheduled for the 7th.

The requirement for passing a presidential impeachment motion is approval by two-thirds of the total members of the National Assembly, meaning 200 out of 300 members must vote in favor. Considering that the opposition holds 192 seats, at least 8 defections from the ruling party are needed for the motion to pass.

Lee said, "The problem is that many ruling party members have the intention to support (the impeachment), but that would require opposing the party line, which puts them in a somewhat difficult position."

Lee stated, "(President Yoon) will be impeached," adding, "The only question is whether he will be removed the day after tomorrow, in a week, or in a month or three months."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the "Emergency National Rally to Urge President Yoon Seok-yeol's Resignation and Impeachment" held on the steps in front of the National Assembly main building on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Lee criticized President Yoon's declaration of martial law as "an abnormal and incomprehensible act that damaged the reputation of the Republic of Korea."

In an interview with CNN in the United States on the same day, Lee also said that when he first heard about the martial law declaration on the night of the 3rd, he thought it was a 'deepfake' (fake video).

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