INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A defiant South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faces a second impeachment vote on Saturday over his short-lived attempt to impose martial
law, a move that shocked the country, split his party and imperilled his presidency half way through his term.Yoon rescinded his Dec
3 move to impose military rule barely six hours later, after the opposition-controlled parliament defied troops and police to vote against
But it plunged the country into a constitutional crisis and triggered widespread calls for him to step down on the grounds that he had
broken the law.Opposition parties plan to hold an impeachment vote at 4 p.m
a week earlier, preventing a quorum.Since then, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon has urged party members to vote for impeachment this time, and at
least seven PPP members have said they would vote to impeach.The opposition parties need at least eight PPP votes to impeach Yoon, as they
control 192 of the 300 seats in the single-chamber parliament and impeachment requires a two-thirds majority.Ahn Cheol-soo, a PPP lawmaker
impeachment.PPP lawmakers were meeting Saturday morning to decide whether to change that position.The main opposition Democratic Party said
statement, asking more from the ruling party to join the impeachment.If impeached, Yoon would lose authority but remain in office until the
Constitutional Court either removes or reinstates him
In the meantime, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would serve as acting president.If the court removes Yoon or he resigns, a presidential
election must be held within 60 days.Yoon is separately under criminal investigation for alleged insurrection over the martial law
declaration and authorities have banned him from travelling overseas.He has not signalled a willingness to resign and in a speech on
allies will rally to support him, but the fiery remarks appeared to find mixed reception among PPP lawmakers.A Gallup Korea poll on Friday
were due to start early in the afternoon.Some K-pop celebrities have slammed the president and plan to donate food and drinks for those
protesters.Elected in 2022, Yoon was widely welcomed in Washington and other Western capitals for his rhetoric defending global democracy
story.South Korean shares rose for a fourth straight session on Friday on hopes that the political uncertainty would ease after this
