SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — The impeachment effort against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared uncertain on Saturday, as opposition forces made an emotional, last-minute effort to convince their conservative colleagues to support the measure.
During a tense session at South Korea’s National Assembly, nearly all conservative lawmakers of the governing People Power Party, or PPP, walked out of the legislative chamber just minutes before the vote, effectively boycotting the opposition-led impeachment motion against Yoon.
As conservatives filed out of the chamber one by one, each was met by loud jeers and chants from an opposition-dominated crowd gathered just outside, with many screaming insults, including “collaborators.”
Hours later, a dramatic scene continued to unfold as the opposition used a variety of pressure tactics to get their counterparts to return. At one point, opposition lawmakers chanted the names of their conservative colleagues, one by one, followed by “come back.”
At least two conservatives returned, joining one other PPP member who had stayed, prompting loud cheers in the National Assembly building.
The impeachment effort needs the votes of eight conservative PPP lawmakers to pass. The opposition Democratic Party says the vote can last until approximately 12:30 a.m. local time.
Outside the legislative compound was a crowd of approximately 100,000 people, according to police estimates, the vast majority of whom had gathered to support the impeachment measure. Many chanted for conservative lawmakers to return.
Yoon declared martial law late Tuesday, claiming it was necessary to “crush anti-state forces” and “protect constitutional order.” The decree was overturned by opposition lawmakers within hours.
Earlier on Saturday, he apologized for causing public anxiety and vowed he would not attempt a second martial law decree.
In an apparent attempt to find a path forward that does involve his resignation, Yoon also said “future governance will be jointly handled by our party and the government.”
It is not clear how Yoon would yield any presidential authority to the PPP, analysts said, since there does not appear to be an established political process for doing so.
Some PPP lawmakers have begun pushing for a compromise proposal, under which South Korea’s constitution would be amended to shorten presidential terms to four years, rather than the current five.
Under such a proposal, Yoon would apparently step down early and the powers of the presidency could be reduced in some manner.
However, opposition party lawmakers have given no indication that they would support such a deal.
“This is a cunning tactic only in order to buy time,” Kim Joon-hyung, a lawmaker with the opposition Rebuilding Korea Party told VOA. “This regime, and the ruling party is dead and dysfunctional, even if the impeachment vote fails.”
South Korea’s presidential office has not clarified Yoon’s remarks or whether he would support such an arrangement.
A Seoul-based law professor, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the ongoing discussions, said there is no process by which the president can transfer the powers of the presidency to the party.
“But more importantly, I don’t think that’s what [Yoon] meant,” he added. “I think he merely meant that he will follow whatever decision the party makes regarding how to stabilize the situation … whether that refers to constitutional revision is unclear.”
Yoon and his party may be trying to avoid a vacancy in the office of the presidency, because under such a scenario an election must be held, according to the constitution, he said.
“President Yoon seems to be trying everything he can to hang on to power,” said Hans Schattle, a professor of political science at Yonsei University. “But the idea of him staying in office any longer seems totally out of sync with the public outrage right now.”
Opposition lawmakers, who have a solid majority in the unicameral legislature, have vowed to quickly hold another impeachment vote if their Saturday effort fails, raising the prospect of a prolonged period of political instability.
“The public will continue to demand that the president, the instigator of this rebellion, will face prosecution or arrest,” Rep. Kim Min-seok told VOA amid the uncertainty Saturday.
Kim, a senior Democratic Party leader, said Yoon’s apology was insincere.
“This will further fuel public anger and lead to greater political chaos,” he said.
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