On December 4, 2024, South Korea's ruling party, the People Power Party, held a full party meeting and decided to oppose the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol proposed by the opposition party. This decision marks an intensifying political conflict in South Korea. During the meeting, the majority of party lawmakers expressed support for opposing the impeachment motion, with leaders like Han Dong-hoon clearly stating that the ruling party would make every effort to prevent the passage of the impeachment.
The People Power Party believes that if Yoon Suk-yeol is impeached, it could lead to early elections, where the current opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, might prevail, allowing him to avoid multiple lawsuits he is currently facing. Meanwhile, some party members advocate for accepting a "national verdict" and support bringing the impeachment motion to the Constitutional Court for a decision. Han Dong-hoon suggested during the meeting that to allow Yoon Suk-yeol to step down with dignity, he should resign from the party's internal position and called for the collective resignation of the President's office's leaders and the Minister of Defense, believing it to be the most effective way to resolve the current political crisis.
However, officials from the President's office stated that the party had not reached a consensus on Yoon Suk-yeol's withdrawal from the party, with discussions primarily focusing on how to handle the existing political deadlock. Analysts point out that regardless of whether the impeachment motion passes, Yoon Suk-yeol may find himself in a deeper political crisis, and the turmoil in South Korea’s political arena may further escalate.
According to South Korea's constitution, the impeachment motion requires the support of two-thirds of the National Assembly to pass. The current opposition camp has gathered 192 lawmakers in support of the impeachment motion, needing only 8 members from the ruling People Power Party to switch sides for it to pass smoothly. If the impeachment motion is rejected, the opposition party plans to propose the impeachment motion again after the conclusion of the regular National Assembly meeting on December 10.
Moreover, South Korea's parliamentary procedure for impeaching the president includes a review by the Constitutional Court. If ultimately passed, Yoon Suk-yeol would be immediately removed from office, resulting in a vacancy in the presidency. Whether the ruling party can maintain internal unity to prevent the passage of the impeachment motion is crucial to the political stability in the coming weeks.
