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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol survived an impeachment motion in the opposition-led parliament on Saturday that was prompted by his short-lived attempt to impose martial law this week after members of his party boycotted the vote.
Only 195 votes were cast, below the threshold of 200 needed for the vote to count.
“The entire nation is watching the decision being made here at the National Assembly today. The world is watching,” National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik said with a sigh.
“Unfortunately, there wasn’t even a vote,” he added.
The opposition Democratic Party will propose a new impeachment bill against Yeol on December 11, which will be put on a vote on December 14, local Yonhap News reported on Saturday
Yoon’s People Power Party said it would find a “more orderly, responsible” way to resolve the crisis than impeachment of the president.
Yoon shocked the nation late on Tuesday when he gave the military sweeping emergency powers in order to root out what he called “anti-state forces” and overcome obstructionist political opponents. He later rescinded the order.
