South Korean Lawmaker Breaks Ranks, Supports Presidential Impeachment

According to Odaily, on the morning of the 11th local time, South Korean ruling party lawmaker Kim Jae-seop announced via a televised broadcast that he would no longer adhere to the party's stance against impeaching President Yoon Suk-yeol. Kim stated his intention to vote in favor of the impeachment in the upcoming proceedings. This development marks a significant shift within the ruling People Power Party, as five lawmakers have now expressed their support for the impeachment. The South Korean National Assembly comprises 300 seats, and for the impeachment motion to pass, it requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the members, equating to a minimum of 200 votes. Currently, the opposition bloc, which includes the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea, holds 192 seats. The ruling party controls 108 seats. If all opposition members vote in favor of the impeachment, only eight additional votes from ruling party lawmakers are needed for the motion to pass through the National Assembly and proceed to the Constitutional Court of Korea for further deliberation. As it stands, three more ruling party lawmakers need to support the impeachment to meet the required threshold. This situation underscores the political tension and division within the ruling party and the broader political landscape in South Korea. The outcome of this impeachment process could have significant implications for the country's political future and governance.