South Korea live: Yoon Suk Yeol survives impeachment vote after boycott by ruling party MPs

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, several cabinet ministers, military commanders and police officials face criminal investigations over his botched attempt to impose martial law.

Prosecutors, the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials have all launched probes into Yoon and the officials, seeking to pursue charges of insurrection and abuse of power, among others.

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office has created a special investigation bureau to examine the case for the first time since it probed a 2016 corruption scandal engulfing then-President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached and eventually ousted, the Yonhap news agency reported on Friday.

The defence ministry said military prosecutors would also be dispatched to that team, and Yonhap said it would include more than a dozen investigators.

The officials face potential charges of insurrection, abuse of authority and obstructing other people from exercising their rights.

If convicted, the crime of leading an insurrection is punishable by death or life imprisonment, with or without prison labour. 

South Korea‘s main opposition Democratic Party said it would not give up its attempt to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after losing a parliamentary vote.

But Yoon’s People Power Party said it would find a “more orderly, responsible” way to resolve the crisis than the impeachment of the president.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol survived an impeachment motion in the opposition-led parliament after members of his party boycotted the vote.

Only 195 votes were cast, below the threshold of 200 needed for the vote to count.

“The entire nation is watching the decision being made here at the National Assembly today. World is watching,” National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik said with a sigh. “It’s very unfortunate that there wasn’t even a vote.”

If president Yoon Suk Yeol is impeached, prime minister Han Duck Soo will take over the presidential responsibilities as interim president.

Han, 75, was appointed by Yoon as prime minister in 2022 after he won the presidential election.

South Korea will then need to hold a presidential election within 60 days.

South Korea has previously seen two presidents being impeached since it became a democracy. Park Geun Hye was removed from office over corruption charges in 2017, and Roh Moo Hyun was impeached in March 2004, a vote that was later overturned by the courts in May 2004.

Mr Yoon, who narrowly won the presidency in 2022, has been facing mounting unpopularity since taking office. Already weakened by a crushing parliamentary election defeat for his party earlier this year, his approval ratings had plummeted to 17 per cent before this week’s events.

The chaos on Tuesday night began when Mr Yoon justified his martial law declaration citing threats from North Korea and the need to eliminate “anti-state elements”.

Shin Dong Wook, a spokesperson for the PPP, addressed rumours that lawmakers are being prevented from voting in the impeachment motion.

“The DP (Democratic Party) is spreading fake news that the PPP is locking lawmakers up so they can’t go and vote but we have not blocked anyone from voting,” he said.

“We are just waiting for the voting process to end.

“And you have already witnessed some lawmakers coming to vote, based on their own preferences. It all depends on their personal will. It is fake news that we are physically preventing them from going.”

PPP member Cho Kyung Tae, who initially said he would support the impeachment motion against the president, said he changed his mind since it could lead to an early election.

“I was determined to agree to the impeachment bill until yesterday, because there was no word from the president’s office nor public apology for martial law or any follow-up measures,” Yoon told BBC Korean. “However, I heard that he was announcing an apology to the public today.”

“Most members of the National Assembly acknowledge that the president’s declaration of martial law was an incorrect and wrong action,” he said. “However, there is concern that if impeachment is used as a means to address the president’s wrongdoings, it will lead to an early presidential election.”

Kim Sang Wook, who returned to the chamber to vote, addressed the public and said that while he did not believe president Yoon Suk Yeol is qualified to lead, he voted against the motion to impeach since it was the party’s decision, reported Korea Joongang Daily.

“This does not mean that I accept Yoon, who has messed up the Constitutional order,” he said.

“This National Assembly is where citizens and public opinions are gathered. But armed soldiers came here, so this is a different issue to the Park Geun Hye case. It is not a healthy democracy if we act like the country will fall apart if someone from the opposing party takes office.

“It has not been a year since I started my career in politics. But I’m satisfied if I can stop martial law and start a new kind of politics. I made up my mind despite knowing that I might be called a traitor.

“I really hope that this chaos becomes the cornerstone for a healthier political ecosystem to be established.

“I thought it was my duty as a lawmaker to vote, whether it is for or against the bill, even if that means losing everything.

“I voted against impeachment, following the party’s decision. But if the president does not take rightful action until the next vote takes place, I will vote for impeachment.”