Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik announced the results, saying, “I hope that the people’s end of the year will be a little happier, and that all canceled year-end and New Year holidays will be restored.”
Rep. Woo said, “The future of the Republic of Korea and our hopes are in the hands of the people,” and “our hopes are strong.”
There has been strong public support for President Yoon’s impeachment. A recent opinion poll showed that three-quarters of Koreans want President Yoon to be impeached.
The Constitutional Court now has 180 days left to decide whether President Yoon should be impeached or reinstated. Once impeachment is decided, the next presidential election must be called within 60 days.
Rep. Yoon was suspended, and Prime Minister Han Deok-soo took over as acting president.
However, both Prime Minister Han and the next presidential candidate, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, are involved in the ongoing police investigation related to last week’s incident.
Representative Yoon said in a statement after the vote that he was “temporarily suspending travel,” but “I will never give up.”
He continued, “I will accept your criticism, praise, and support with all my heart and will do my best for the country until the end.”
Despite the bitter cold, outside the National Assembly, where tens of thousands of protesters gathered all day long, many spoke of their intention to permanently resign from office.
