South Korea's Opposition Chief: Ousting Yoon Won't Be Easy

As South Korea's political landscape continues to be rocked by President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial martial law declaration, the opposition has been pushing for his impeachment. However, the opposition chief has recently acknowledged that ousting Yoon may not be as straightforward as initially hoped.

In a recent interview, the opposition chief, Lee Jae-myung, admitted that the process of impeaching President Yoon would be challenging. The opposition parties together have 192 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, and they need at least 200 votes to pass an impeachment motion. This means they would need to secure at least 8 votes from the ruling People Power Party (PPP).

The PPP, which has 18 members who voted against Yoon's martial law decree, is divided. While some members are critical of Yoon's actions, the PPP leader, Han Dong-hun, has stated that the party would oppose impeachment. This internal division within the PPP could make it difficult for the opposition to secure the required votes.



The opposition's strategy will likely focus on addressing the concerns of the anti-Yoon faction within the PPP. They may need to offer compromises or concessions to secure their support. However, if the PPP unites to oppose impeachment, it could indicate public disapproval of the opposition's efforts, making the impeachment process more challenging.

The Constitutional Court's composition and dynamics could also impact the final decision on Yoon's impeachment. With only six judges currently serving, a unanimous verdict would require all of them to approve impeachment. This could be subject to challenge by Yoon and the PPP. Opposition parties could nominate more judges after the parliamentary vote, but their nominations must be approved by the acting president, expected to be Yoon's present prime minister. Notably, the majority of judges on the court are conservative appointees, which may favor Yoon.



The impeachment process timeline in South Korea is crucial to the opposition's efforts to secure votes. They have 72 hours to vote on the impeachment motion after its parliamentary introduction. They plan to vote on Saturday, suggesting they need more time to secure votes. If the impeachment motion does not pass and Yoon remains in office, the next election is due in 2027.

In conclusion, ousting President Yoon Suk Yeol may not be as easy as the opposition initially anticipated. The political divisions within the PPP and the dynamics of the Constitutional Court could make the impeachment process more challenging. The opposition will need to navigate these complexities and address the concerns of the anti-Yoon faction within the PPP to have a chance at removing Yoon from office. The upcoming vote on Saturday will be a critical test of the opposition's strategy and the political divisions within the PPP.