SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- In the chilly and windy December afternoon in the South Korean capital Seoul, crowds of angry people were gathered in front of the country's parliament to witness a vote on the second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol.
As the clock struck noon, a sea of residents, undeterred by the biting December winds, congregated before the parliament's main gate, brandishing placards that boldly proclaimed "Yoon Suk-yeol Out!" and "Arrest the Mastermind of Chaos, Yoon Suk-yeol!" demanding his immediate step-down.
The crowd, a tapestry woven from all walks of life, swelled as the day progressed, transforming the roads in front of the parliament into a kaleidoscope of colors and chants. Young adults in their 20s or 30s, armed with glowing batons, ingeniously wove impeachment slogans into the melodies of K-pop hits, momentarily converting the protest venue into a vibrant, open-air concert. Police estimated that more than 200,000 people attended the gathering.
At about 16:00 local time, the vote on the second impeachment motion began. Unlike boycotting the first vote, the ruling party, which opted to oppose the impeachment, allowed its lawmakers to participate and vote freely this time. As a result, the entire contingent of 300 lawmakers of the unicameral National Assembly attending the historic plenary session cast their votes.
The voting process was conducted by secret ballot, with parliament members marking the white voting paper in turn and placing it in the ballot box.
At around 17:00, Parliament Speaker Woo Won-shik solemnly announced the result: "Out of 300 participants, 204 voted in favor and 85 against, with three abstentions and eight invalid votes. I hereby declare the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol passed!"
Upon the announcement, cheers broke out in the crowds outside the parliament. "We did it!" people chanted, with joy echoed through the throngs. Some were hugging each other while others were sobbing, tears of joy streaming down their faces.
"Today's result reflects the will of the people," Ahn Jung-ah, told Xinhua, who came from the North Chungcheong Province of Jecheon.
A gentleman surnamed Kim said he had mixed feelings about the impeachment vote. "For now, it's just the beginning of the end. The political landscape remains unstable and I am still filled with anxiety," he said. "As a member of the general public, I sincerely hope that the political parties can reduce their disputes, think more about their citizens, and prioritize the people's voices."
Under the country's Constitution, the prime minister assumes the role of acting president if the president is impeached. President Yoon's presidential duties are only suspended until the Constitutional Court delivers its ruling on the impeachment motion.
If the court upholds the impeachment, Yoon will be removed from office, and the prime minister will continue to act as president until a new president is elected within 60 days. ■
