1 of 2 | South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has seen his approval rating plummet to 11% ahead of an impeachment vote over his short-lived martial law decree. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo
Embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol saw his approval rating sink to a record low of 11% on Friday ahead of a second impeachment motion over his short-lived declaration of martial law.
Yoon, already deeply unpopular before his martial law attempt, received an 85% negative rating in the weekly tracking poll released by Gallup Korea. Some 75% of respondents supported his impeachment, while 21% opposed it. Advertisement
The Democratic Party-led opposition reported a new impeachment motion to the National Assembly on Thursday and plans to hold a vote Saturday at 4 p.m. Yoon survived the first impeachment attempt last weekend as all but three members of his ruling People Power Party boycotted the vote.
Yoon’s support appears to be waning, however, in the wake of a defiant address Thursday in which he defended his decision to declare martial law on Dec. 3 and vowed to “fight to the end.”
PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, who led the walkout on the previous vote, said he was now in favor of impeachment after Yoon’s remarks.
“I thought that an early resignation before the impeachment period would be a more predictable and quicker measure,” Han said in a statement. Advertisement
“Since it has been confirmed that the president has no intention of resigning early, an immediate suspension of duties is necessary,” he said. ” Our party members should attend the [impeachment] meeting and vote according to their convictions and consciences.”
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung urged lawmakers to vote in favor of impeachment Friday, saying it would be the “quickest and surest way to end the chaos.”
“Whether ruling or opposition party, progressive or conservative, [lawmakers] have the responsibility to abide by the Constitution,” Lee said in a statement at the National Assembly. “What you must protect is not Yoon Seok Yeol or the People Power Party. It is the lives of the people who are crying out on the cold streets right now.”
Massive protests have called for Yoon’s ouster since his shocking martial law decree, which was overturned by the National Assembly just hours later.
Loud K-pop music and humorous flags and banners have brought a spirited atmosphere to the rallies, despite frigid weather around the country. A crowd of hundreds of thousands is expected to gather near the National Assembly again on Saturday for the impeachment vote.
Impeachment requires the support of two-thirds of the 300-member parliament. The opposition controls 192 seats and needs eight votes from the ruling party to pass the motion. As of Friday, seven PPP members have publicly said they would vote for impeachment this time. Advertisement
If the impeachment passes, Yoon will be relieved of his duties and the Constitutional Court will decide whether to reinstate or remove him from office.
Yoon is also facing criminal investigations for treason and abuse of power. He has been barred from leaving the country.
