President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea issued an apology this week for his attempt to instate martial law, yet he refrained from resigning, standing firm against mounting pressure to step down, even from certain members of his own ruling party, only hours before a scheduled impeachment vote.
Mr. Yoon expressed that he would not evade legal and political accountability for his decision to declare martial law—a first for South Korea since 1980. He referred to the decision as a desperate measure.
This marked the beleaguered leader’s initial public appearance following his annulment of the martial law order early Wednesday, just six hours after its announcement and after parliament contested military and police barriers to vote against the decree.
“I deeply regret the situation and wish to sincerely apologize to all those shocked,” Mr. Yoon stated during a televised national address, during which he bowed.
Han Dong-hoon, the head of Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP), commented post-address that the president was no longer fit to serve in his public capacity, stating that his resignation had become inevitable.
Yesterday, Mr. Han asserted that Mr. Yoon posed a risk to the nation and should be ousted, amplifying the calls for Mr. Yoon’s resignation, even though PPP members later reiterated a formal stance against his impeachment.
Mr. Han was slated to confer with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo today, as reported by local Yonhap News. According to the constitution, should Mr. Yoon resign or be impeached, the prime minister—appointed by Mr. Yoon—would assume the role of interim president of South Korea.
Mass protests have erupted in South Korea, demanding the ousting of the president.
Lawmakers are set to vote on the main opposition Democratic Party’s proposal to impeach Mr. Yoon later today.
Mr. Yoon caught the nation off guard late Tuesday when he granted the military extensive emergency powers in a bid to eliminate what he termed “anti-state forces” and bypass obstruction from political adversaries.
Some members of the PPP urged Mr. Yoon to step down before the vote, expressing their desire to avoid a repeat of the 2016 impeachment of then-President Park Geun-hye, who resigned after months of candlelit protests amid an influence-peddling scandal. Her removal led to a breakdown of the party and a subsequent victory for liberals in both presidential and general elections.
Echoing those historic protests, thousands of demonstrators holding candles gathered outside parliament on Friday night, demanding Mr. Yoon’s impeachment. Further protests are anticipated today ahead of the vote.
Prosecutors, along with the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, have initiated investigations into Mr. Yoon and senior officials associated with the martial law decree, aiming to pursue charges of insurrection and abuse of power, among others.
The officials could face serious charges including insurrection, abuse of authority, and hindering others from exercising their rights. Conviction on an insurrection charge can lead to severe penalties, including death or life imprisonment, with or without labor.
