The Korea Herald

지나쌤

[Graphic News] Impeachment vote: Will it pass crucial threshold of 200?

By Korea Herald

Published : Dec. 8, 2016 - 18:25

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South Korea’s parliament will vote Friday on whether to impeach President Park Geun-hye over a scandal that has plunged the country into turmoil.

Park‘s liberal foes control 172 votes, 28 shy of the 200, or two-thirds of the 300-seat National Assembly, required for impeachment.

The fate of the embattled president hinges on a group of more than 40 Saenuri Party lawmakers, locally referred to as the “non-Park“ cluster because they are in the grey area between pro- and anti-Park forces. A spokesperson for the non-Parks says at least 35 of them will cast a yes vote in the parliamentary motion to impeach Park.

If passed, it will be up to the nine judges of the Constitutional Court to decide whether or not Park should be removed from office.

In the country’s first and only presidential impeachment trial of the late President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004, the court chose to reinstate the state head.