We are less than 6 hours away from the impeachment vote.
We now go over to the Yongsan Presidential Office where our correspondent Oh Soo-young is standing by.
1. Soo-young, the last time we heard from President Yoon himself was on Thursday, where he gave an almost half-hour televised address.
Just briefly, let’s go over the highlights of the speech what this indicates about his position.
In his 29-minute speech, President Yoon Suk Yeol claimed he had imposed martial law as a presidential act of governance, in order to save and protect South Korea’s democracy from what he’s called anti-state forces, criminal groups, as well as national security risks.
Yoon mainly argued that, for the past two years, the opposition party has refused to recognize him as the elected president and has attempted to unseat him and members of his administration through impeachment.
So I’d say there are two things: First, he sounded extremely defensive. He was clearly trying to explain and justify his decision to impose martial law, by describing how the opposition party is trying to sabotage his administration and its policies, and, second, to emphasize he had no intentions of disrupting the constitutional order.
He argued he was trying to restore it, as he claimed that liberal democracy was in peril.
Then, he insisted martial law was a political decision that’s also legal under his executive authority.
So his speech seemed to be an attempt to defend and justify himself as investigators close in on him on charges of possible insurrection, and as he expects impeachment proceedings to begin.
The second takeaway is that the President intends to fight to the end, as he said. I’d say this was typical of his unbending character. As a former prosecutor, once he makes a judgment, there is no compromise or alternative paths. So we saw him apologize for creating ‘anxiety’ but he did not say he regretted imposing martial law, nor did he seem apologetic towards the lawmakers who he allegedly ordered to be dislodged physically from parliament by military troops.
As he said, he seems to be ready to fight to the end and that resigning is not even an option for him.
2. So as President Yoon gears up for insurrection charges and possible impeachment proceedings.
How do you expect things to develop?
We saw attempts by police to raid the Presidential Office this week and while there hasn’t been a warrant execution for Yoon’s official residence yet, investigators are closing in on him over insurrection charges.
It’s being reported that the Presidential Office is reaching out to former legal secretaries as well as top law firms to form a legal defense team. President Yoon and his wife also withdrew from the Telegram messaging service indicating they’re preparing for a full-scale investigation. Some key aides are also believed to have deleted Telegram and switched their mobile phones.
3. What are the consequences for Yoon today? What powers would he continue to retain if he is or isn’t impeached?
If impeached, the Constitutional Court’s impeachment review would begin, freezing Yoon’s duties as president, and his Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would take over as interim leader. Only the title of president is retained.
When the impeachment motion against President Roh Moo-hyun was passed in 2004, the Ministry of Justice prepared a report which stated a suspended president cannot exercise any powers, including diplomatic authority, appointment or dismissal of public officials, or command of the armed forces.
The suspended president also cannot receive reports or give orders to public officials such as the prime minister and Cabinet ministers or attend National Assembly sessions.
However, the president is entitled to protocol privileges such as residing in the presidential residence, using official vehicles and aircraft, and receiving security services.
His office would also continue to function normally, with senior secretaries proceeding to answer to him as usual.
If he is not impeached: he would retain his title but it’s highly likely he would still lose his credibility and ability to govern effectively due to low public and political support, and as investigations into his possible insurrection will continue, they could lead to his arrest.
If he’s arrested, the question would be whether he’s considered to be in a state of “accident,” deeming him temporarily unable to perform duties, OR whether this creates a “vacancy.”
If his arrest is deemed an accident, in line with Article 71 of the constitution, the Prime Minister would take over as interim leader, but if it’s considered a vacancy, in line with Article 68, an election must be called within sixty days.
Thanks Soo-young for your report today.
We appreciate it as always.
source : https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=279011
