Second Impeachment Motion Against Yoon to Be Voted on the 14th... Inclusion of Specific 'Rebellion Charges' Is Key

Opposition to Propose Second Impeachment Motion Around 3 PM
"Yoon, Break Moon and Drag Out Personnel," Testimony Emerges
If Treason Is Specified, Ruling Party Faces Burden Opposing Impeachment

The Democratic Party of Korea will reintroduce the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol on the first day of the temporary National Assembly session, the 11th. The second impeachment motion is planned to be reported to the plenary session on the 12th and put to a vote on the 14th.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting that day, "The December 3rd insurrection incident involving President Yoon was a meticulously planned event in advance, and there is evidence that war was deliberately provoked to create a pretext for martial law," adding, "We must restore normalcy in the Republic of Korea as soon as possible." Lee pointed out that the domestic and international crises are spreading because President Yoon, who is accused of being the ringleader of the insurrection, still holds the position of commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

The Democratic Party plans to promptly proceed with the second submission of the impeachment motion against President Yoon around 3 p.m. that day. It is known that they are refining specific grounds for impeachment regarding President Yoon's misconduct in performing his duties and violations of the Constitution and laws, based on the first impeachment motion submitted on the 4th.

Previously, the first impeachment motion was filed under Article 65 of the Constitution (If the President, Prime Minister, or other public officials prescribed by law violate the Constitution or laws in the execution of their duties, the National Assembly may resolve to impeach them) and Article 130 of the National Assembly Act (Initiation of impeachment motion). Specifically, it pointed out that the declaration of martial law by the President did not meet any substantive or procedural requirements, stating seven unconstitutional aspects including that the martial law declaration was unconstitutional and invalid.

As the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol failed to pass due to a lack of quorum caused by the collective abstention of People Power Party lawmakers, citizens gathered in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 9th, urging the president's impeachment. On the same day, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions will hold a candlelight rally at 6 p.m. in front of the National Assembly, followed by a candlelight protest organized by civic groups at 7 p.m. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

The core of the second impeachment motion lies in whether to specify concrete testimonies and circumstances regarding President Yoon’s illegality in declaring martial law and his 'acts of insurrection.' Although the first impeachment motion cited Articles 87, 89, and 91 of the Criminal Act, stating that the declaration of martial law constitutes an attempted insurrection under criminal law, it lacked specific circumstances of President Yoon’s insurrection acts.

After the first impeachment motion was submitted, circumstances emerged indicating that President Yoon directly ordered the martial law troops to block the National Assembly and arrest members of the National Assembly, acts that constitute insurrection, and the Democratic Party is considering including these in the second impeachment motion. In fact, former Special Forces Commander Kwak Jong-geun testified at the National Assembly Defense Committee plenary session the previous day that during the December 3rd martial law incident, President Yoon called and instructed, "Break down the door and drag out the people inside the National Assembly."

If the second impeachment motion specifies President Yoon’s concrete insurrection charges, it is analyzed that the People Power Party will also face considerable pressure to oppose the impeachment vote. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has already been notified by the police to appear as a suspect on charges of conspiring in martial law, and the Democratic Party has submitted a resolution to the National Assembly urging the expulsion of People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho on suspicion of obstructing the lifting of martial law.

Support for President Yoon’s impeachment is also spreading within the People Power Party. More than 20 members of the ruling party supported the 'Permanent Special Prosecutor Investigation Request' passed at the National Assembly plenary session the previous day to investigate the insurrection charges against President Yoon and others. Jeong Jin-wook, secretary to the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said regarding the second impeachment motion, "It will be composed of newly revealed (President Yoon’s) insurrection acts and existing grounds for impeachment."

The Justice Innovation Party also emphasized that newly added content will be included in the impeachment motion. Lee Kwang-cheol, chief secretary of the Justice Innovation Party’s impeachment promotion committee and former senior secretary for civil affairs at the Moon Jae-in administration’s Blue House, explained after the impeachment promotion committee meeting that day, "Newly revealed facts related to the insurrection since the 4th, especially the President directly naming individuals and giving orders, as well as testimonies from the first director of the National Intelligence Service, will be reflected as grounds for impeachment. We also plan to reflect the unconstitutionality and illegality of duties related to the so-called Myeongtaegyun Gate."

On the 7th, the day of the vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, citizens are urging the impeachment of President Yoon in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.