Live Updates: South Korea's President Impeached Over Martial Law Crisis

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: New York Times

Current time in:
Seoul, South Korea Dec. 14, 5:10 p.m.
LIVE
Updated
Dec. 14, 2024, 3:09 a.m. ET
1 minute ago

Live Updates: South Korea's President Impeached Over Martial Law Crisis
President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Dec. 3 and plunged South Korea into political turmoil. Some members of Mr. Yoon's own party helped pass the motion to impeach.

Pinned

Updated
Dec. 14, 2024, 3:09 a.m. ET3 minutes ago
Choe Sang-HunJin Yu Young and Qasim NaumanReporting from Seoul

Here are the latest developments.

South Korea's National Assembly voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday, suspending him from office after his stunning declaration of martial law earlier this month caused widespread outrage and plunged the country into a constitutional crisis. ... Under South Korea's Constitution, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will step in as interim leader. The Constitutional Court will now decide whether to reinstate Mr. Yoon or formally remove him, deliberations that could take up to six months.

The impeachment was the latest twist in a turbulent term that began in 2022, when Mr. Yoon narrowly won the election on a conservative, business-friendly platform. His tenure has been marked by near-constant protests and political deadlock. ... On Dec. 3, Mr. Yoon declared martial law, accusing the opposition of paralyzing his government, and soldiers were sent to the National Assembly. An officer who led the soldiers later said that their orders had been to forcibly remove lawmakers so they would not reach the 150 votes needed to overturn martial law.

It was the first time a South Korean president had declared martial law since military dictatorship ended in the country in the late 1980s. Images of soldiers with assault rifles streaming out of military helicopters and then trying to take over the National Assembly building caused widespread shock and outrage. ... The opposition managed to vote down the declaration, however, prompting Mr. Yoon to rescind his order within hours.

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Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/14/world/south-korea-impeachment-president-yoon#south-korea-president-yoon-impeach

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It has been my experience that when I go to an article in the NYT by linking to it at Google News, I do not encounter a paywall.

[SunSeeker]

1. The Republicans' refusal to impeach Trump over 1/6 set this country up for disaster.

Glad for South Korea that they did not repeat America's mistake.

[nitpicked]

2. Link to BBC live thread

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1wq025v421t

(snip)

03:19
With 204 votes in favour, 85 votes against, three abstentions and eight invalid votes out of the 300 lawmakers, Speaker Woo Won-shik announced the impeachment vote had passed, and concluded the session.

"To the people, we hope your end of year will be a little happier now, and all your cancelled year-end celebrations to be restored," he said.

"The future of the Republic of Korea and our hope is in the hands of the people, our hope is strong. Thank you very much," he said as he ended the session.
(snip)

[nitpicked]

3. In the DC area, I get 22-4 broadcasting NHK TV (currently live)

NHK is reporting 10 of the ruling party supported impeachment.

[nitpicked]

4. Oops, NHK just resumed features

I'm almost certain they will have live updates at the tops of the hours, since they usually have news on then.

[nitpicked]

5. From the 5 am EST NHK update

1. At least 12 of the ruling party voted to support impeachment.

2. The Constitutional Court needs 6 to impeach, but only 6 of the 9 seats are filled, so if one of the six objects to impeachment, Yoon is retained.