- Lee Jae-myung, leader of Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party (DP), said he would try to impeach the president again on December 14 if he does not resign before then. Mr. Yoon postponed the impeachment effort late Saturday. The impeachment motion proposed by the opposition parties required 200 votes in the 300-member parliament to pass. However, an almost complete boycott by Mr. Yun’s People’s Power Party (PPP) doomed it.
- However, Mr Yoon’s party leader said the president would be effectively sidelined from his duties before ultimately leaving office. PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said at a news conference with Prime Minister Han Duk-soo on Sunday that Mr Yoon would not get involved in foreign and other state affairs before his early resignation.
- On Saturday before the vote, Yoon, 63, reappeared for the first time in three days and apologized for the “concern and inconvenience” caused by the declaration of martial law. But he refused to step down, saying he would leave the decision of his fate to his party. His party leader said the comments were effectively a promise to leave office early, adding that the ruling party would consult the prime minister to manage state affairs.
- That proposal, which appeared to get tacit approval from the Yoon-appointed prime minister, was condemned by opposition lawmakers, who said it was another unconstitutional power grab to hand over authority without resignation or impeachment. The main opposition DP demanded the immediate suspension of Mr Yoon’s presidential duties and stripping him of his authority to control the military. It also called for the arrest of the President and relevant military officials implicated in the martial law failure.
- National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik also said that handing over the presidency to the prime minister and the ruling party without impeachment is unconstitutional. Wu proposed a meeting of rival parties to discuss ways to immediately suspend Yun’s presidential power.
- Meanwhile, the police has arrested former Defense Minister of South Korea Kim Yong-Hyun. Mr Kim resigned earlier this week after the country imposed brief dramatic martial law. The Asian country’s Interior Minister Lee Sang-min has also resigned. Both he and Mr Yoon are being investigated for alleged rebellion.
- Yonhap News Agency reported that prosecutors had “filed a case” against President Yoon, a process in South Korea that involves formally naming the subjects of an investigation. It came as three minority opposition parties filed complaints with prosecutors against Mr. Yoon, former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun and martial law commander Park En-su, accusing them of rebellion. The crime of leading a rebellion is punishable by death or imprisonment for life, with or without prison labour.
- Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Sunday the Cabinet would do its best to “maintain trust with our allies,” referring to the United States and Japan. In an effort to reassure the public, several military leaders, including the acting Defense Minister, have said they would reject any order to impose another round of martial law.
- Meanwhile, protests continue in South Korea as huge crowds – police said there were 150,000 people, organizers put the number at one million – gathered outside the parliament to pressure lawmakers to remove the president. Many people wore elaborate costumes, carried homemade flags and waved colorful glow sticks and LED candles as K-pop tunes blared from speakers.
- Yun stunned the country on Tuesday night when he imposed martial law, giving the military sweeping emergency powers to root out “anti-state forces” and obstructive political opponents. He revoked the order six hours later, when Parliament voted unanimously against the decree, disregarding the military and police cordon.