S. Korean opposition leader seeks backing for Yoon's impeachment

SEOUL - South Korea's opposition leader warned his ruling party colleagues on Dec 13 that "history will remember" if they do not back the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol

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SEOUL - South Korea's opposition leader warned his ruling party colleagues on Dec 13 that "history will remember" if they do not back the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, with hours until a vote to remove him from office.

Mr Yoon's short-lived imposition of South Korea's first martial law in over four decades plunged the country's vibrant and combative democracy into some of its worst political turmoil in years.

An attempt to remove him from office on Dec 7 failed when lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the impeachment motion.

But after a week of backdoor politicking and a mounting investigation into Mr Yoon and his inner circle, analysts now say the main opposition Democratic Party may have better luck with its second attempt.

The impeachment vote on Dec 14 will take place around 5pm local time (4pm Singapore time), with Mr Yoon accused of committing "insurrectionary acts undermining the constitutional order" relating to his martial law bid.

Two hundred votes are needed for it to pass, meaning opposition lawmakers must convince eight ruling party colleagues to defect.