Political turmoil has escalated after the motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday failed to garner the 200 votes required for its passage.
Partisan politics and polarization aren't the answer at this critical juncture. What is needed most now is a concerted bipartisan effort to restore stability and find a way for Yoon to leave office peacefully and early, in order to prevent further damage to the nation and its economy. To achieve this, Yoon and the leaders of major political parties must set aside their egos and stop exploiting the current crisis to advance their own political agendas. It is time for them to unite and collaborate in finding a solution that is best for the nation. The ruling camp must also present a clear, convincing roadmap that fulfills its commitment to Yoon's early resignation.
In a televised address on Saturday, just hours before the vote on his impeachment, Yoon stated that he would take full legal and political responsibility for his actions. He announced that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) would work together to manage state affairs based on a consensus.
The prime minister and PPP leader Han Dong-hoon responded to Yoon's call in a joint televised address held on Sunday, pledging to manage the nation's affairs effectively despite the leadership vacuum, in order to mitigate potential damage to the country's defense and economy. The party chairman promised to draw up and present a specific roadmap for this process as soon as possible. The prime minister emphasized the government's priority to prevent a vacuum in state affairs.
The next move now lies with the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). Unfortunately, the DPK has firmly rejected the proposal from the two Hans to establish a weekly policy consultation meeting between the government and the ruling party to lead the nation temporarily until Yoon's resignation is finalized. The DPK argued that the proposal is against the Constitution and was unacceptable, urging the prosecution to arrest Yoon and Cabinet members involved in what they called acts of rebellion. The DPK vowed to submit another motion to impeach Yoon on Wednesday.
Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the DPK, stated that his party would continue to pursue impeachment proceedings until the National Assembly agrees to suspend Yoon's duties, hopefully before the end of the year. He lashed out at the ruling party and its leader after the impeachment motion failed on Saturday, accusing PPP Chairman Han of using politics to further his own ambitions. Lee was referring to Han's shifting stance on the impeachment motion.
The DPK had tabled the impeachment motion only days after Yoon's political gamble ended in failure. The hastiness of the vote suggests that Chairman Lee is under significant pressure, with little time to lose. In November, Lee was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for violating election laws. If the Supreme Court upholds the district court's ruling, Lee will be disqualified from running in elections for 10 years. Lee immediately appealed the decision, and a ruling is expected on the case in the upper court within three months. If Lee appeals again, a final ruling could take another three months in the Supreme Court. His political future depends on the top court's decision, putting him under extreme pressure.
It would benefit Lee if the impeachment motion were approved quickly, allowing the Constitutional Court to review it and potentially impeach Yoon. The best-case scenario for Lee will be that a presidential election could be held before the Supreme Court issues its ruling on his case.
Ruling party leader Han also faces criticism for appearing to prioritize his own political interests over the nation's well-being. He initially stated on Thursday that the PPP would vote against the impeachment motion but reversed his position the next day, arguing that Yoon's suspension was necessary to protect the country. This shift came after reports surfaced suggesting Han's name was on a list of politicians to be arrested right after Yoon declared martial law — an allegation the presidential office denied. This incident raises questions about Han's attempts to influence the ruling party's stance on impeachment based on unverified media reports about his own fate.
At this critical moment, political leaders must prioritize the nation's best interests. Korea urgently needs selfless leadership to navigate the ongoing turmoil and restore stability. It is time to unite, not to continue fighting over partisan interests.