SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law, as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers.
The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon's ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president's impeachment. Yoon's martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party, but the party is also determined to oppose Yoon's impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals.
After the motion fell through, members of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party rallied inside the National Assembly, chanting slogans calling for Yoon's impeachment or resignation.
The party's floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said it will soon prepare for a new impeachment motion. Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next Wednesday.
''We'll surely impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, who is the greatest risk to Republic of Korea,'' party leader Lee Jae-myung said. ''We'll surely bring back this country to normal before Christmas Day or year's end.''
Many experts worry Yoon won't be able to serve out his remaining 2 ½ years in office. They say some PPP lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties' efforts to impeach Yoon if public demands for it grow further.
The ruling party risks "further public outrage and national confusion if they don't find a formula fast for Yoon's departure,'' said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Washington.
PPP chair Han Dong-hun said his party will seek Yoon's ''orderly'' early exit but didn't say when he can resign.