Protesters tore signs bearing the names of ruling People Power Party lawmakers who abstained from voting during the impeachment motion against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol last Saturday, according to Reuters.
On Monday, South Korea's opposition accused the ruling party of orchestrating a 'second coup' by refusing to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his declaration of martial law. Yoon's attempt to scrap civilian rule plunged the country into political chaos, lasting only six hours before lawmakers, in a scuffle with soldiers, managed to vote down the measure, forcing Yoon into a humiliating reversal. The president and several top officials are now under investigation for insurrection, but the impeachment bid failed due to a boycott by the ruling party, who claim the unpopular leader has agreed to transfer power to the prime minister and party chief.
'This is an unlawful, unconstitutional act of a second insurrection and a second coup,' said Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae, urging the ruling party to 'stop it immediately'. Under South Korea's constitution, the president remains head of government and commander in chief unless incapacitated, resigns, or steps down. Power would then be handed to the prime minister on an interim basis until elections are held. The ruling party's claim that Yoon can remain in office while delegating his powers to the unelected leader of his party is 'a blatant constitutional violation with no legal basis,' according to Park.
Investigators have detained the former defense minister, raided his offices, imposed travel bans on several top officials, and on Monday summoned the general who was appointed martial law commander for further questioning. Yoon himself may be called in for questioning, police said, adding that they are 'considering' whether to ban him from traveling as their investigation progresses. The defense ministry confirmed that Yoon remains at the head of the country's security apparatus, despite the apparent power vacuum.
Yoon, 63, has apologized for the 'anxiety and inconvenience' caused by his martial law declaration but has not resigned, instead entrusting decisions about his fate to his party and accepting all political and legal responsibility for the fiasco. Constitutional law professor Kim Hae-won at Pusan National University Law School said there is no constitutional basis for the ruling party's claim that Yoon can stay in office while handing over his power to unelected party officials, describing it as an 'unconstitutional soft coup'.
The opposition has vowed to try again to impeach the president, with leader Lee Jae-myung announcing another vote would be held on Saturday. Huge crowds are expected to gather again outside the National Assembly building. Yoon's approval rating has plummeted to 11 percent, a historic low, according to a new Gallup poll commissioned by local media.
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