The head of South Korea’s ruling party demanded Friday that President Yoon Suk Yeol be removed from office following his failed attempt to impose martial law, warning that there is a “significant risk” he could return to civilian rule. Can try to finish it.
Yun suspended civilian rule late Tuesday, after which he was forced to make a U-turn as lawmakers faced troops inside parliament and thousands protested outside and voted to overturn the measure. Did.
Han Dong-hoon, head of Yoon’s People Power Party, said Friday, “Taking into account the newly emerging facts, I believe the prompt suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s duties is necessary for the safety of the Republic of Korea and its people.” Is necessary.”
If Yun remains in place, “there is a significant risk that extreme actions similar to the martial law declaration could be repeated, which could put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger,” Han said in televised comments.
Han said Yun “does not acknowledge that this illegal martial law is wrong” and has failed to take action against “illegally intervening” military officials.
Additionally, Han said that “credible evidence” showed that Yun had ordered the arrest of “prominent politicians” and placing them in a holding facility on Tuesday night.
Opposition lawmaker Jo Seung-lae said security camera footage indicated that soldiers were attempting to arrest opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and PPP chief Han.
impeachment vote
The opposition had already tabled a motion to impeach Yun, which would be voted on at around 7:00 pm (1000 GMT) on Saturday, but it was unclear whether it would pass.
But Han’s comments represent a surprise U-turn, a day after he said the PPP would block the proposal, which needs a two-thirds majority to pass.
The opposition faction has 192 seats in the 300-member Parliament, while the PPP has 108 seats. A successful vote would suspend Yoon from office pending a ruling by the Constitutional Court.
Political science professor Shin Yul said, “Although there are still some members of the ruling party supporting Yoon Suk Yeol, it seems that Han’s statements today are deeply affected by the seriousness of the situation, especially regarding arrests of politicians.” “Activity of intelligence agencies for this.” at Myongji University, told AFP.
Shin said, “It appears that Han and party leaders have concluded that there is indeed a significant possibility that President Yun could declare a second martial law.”
A latest opinion poll released Friday showed support for Yun at a record low of 13 percent.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has canceled his planned visit to South Korea next week, media reports said.
Investigation
Police told AFP that a 120-strong dedicated police investigation team had been formed to investigate rebellion charges, which were filed by the opposition against Yun and several top officials.
“If the investigation turns up evidence of preparations for a second martial law, we will pursue it further,” Kim San-ho, the official overseeing the investigation, told AFP. He said there is currently no evidence of a second attempt.
Yun, who has lurched from one crisis to another since taking office in 2022, has not been seen in public since his televised address in the early hours of Wednesday.
On Thursday, his office said Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun had resigned, but other key aides, including Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, were remaining in post.
Prosecutors also banned Kim from leaving the country, Yonhap news agency reported.
Lawmakers on Thursday questioned senior figures, including army chief Gen. Park En-su, who served as Yun’s martial law commander.
Park said she was kept in the dark until the president announced the imposition of martial law on live television late Tuesday night.
It was the first such announcement in South Korea in more than four decades and brought back painful memories of its autocratic past.
The move, Yoon said, was to “protect moderate South Korea from threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements that rob the people of their freedom and happiness.”
Security forces sealed off the National Assembly, helicopters landed on the roof and about 300 soldiers tried to storm the building.
But as soon as parliamentary staff stopped the soldiers with sofas and fire extinguishers. A substantial number of lawmakers came out and rejected Yoon’s move.
“We cannot for a moment entrust the running of the government to a president who endangers the lives of sovereign people through unconstitutional and illegal actions,” Democratic Party chief Lee Jae-myung said Friday.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
