On December 12, Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's largest opposition party, the Democratic Party, publicly called for President Yoon Suk-yeol to step down promptly. He stated that South Korea's economy is collapsing, posing a severe threat to its future prospects. Lee Jae-myung bluntly remarked, "Why should 52 million South Koreans suffer because of your pride and stubbornness?" He urged Yoon Suk-yeol to "let everything go" to save the nation from its predicament.
Lee Jae-myung also noted that there might be support within the ruling party for the proposal to impeach the president. "Some lawmakers from the ruling party may very well vote in favor of impeachment," he said. He urged Yoon Suk-yeol to resign voluntarily before a greater crisis arrives, rather than face political turmoil.
In recent months, South Korea's economic growth has slowed, inflationary pressures have risen, and the unemployment issue has worsened, triggering strong dissatisfaction with government policies from all sectors of society. The opposition believes that the Yoon Suk-yeol government's economic policy mistakes and neglect of critical issues are the main reasons for the current situation.
This is one of several recent public calls by Lee Jae-myung for Yoon Suk-yeol to step down. As a leading figure of the opposition in South Korea, Lee Jae-myung's statement reflects widespread political division and social dissatisfaction. Analysts believe that this confrontation may further intensify in the coming months.
Currently, President Yoon Suk-yeol has not responded to Lee Jae-myung's latest remarks. However, with the continuing strain on South Korea's economic situation and a decline in public trust in the government, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration is facing increasing political pressure. Observers suggest that if voices within the ruling party indeed emerge in support of impeachment, it could have a significant impact on South Korea's political scene.
