The ruling party in South Korea has called for the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol, citing his recent declaration of martial law, which sparked widespread protests and backlash.
Han Dong-hoon, the head of the People Power Party (PPP), warned that Yoon’s actions posed a significant risk to the country’s democratic stability, particularly as there is credible evidence suggesting that the president ordered the arrest of opposition leaders and key politicians.
Han emphasized that Yoon’s failure to address the illegal martial law declaration could lead to further destabilizing actions, putting the nation in grave danger.
On Tuesday, Yoon announced martial law, citing the need to safeguard South Korea from external threats and internal anti-state forces.
However, the measure was swiftly overturned by lawmakers who faced down soldiers at parliament and voted to reject the declaration. Thousands of protesters gathered outside, condemning the move as an authoritarian overreach.
A motion to impeach President Yoon is scheduled for a vote on Saturday evening. The opposition, which holds 192 seats in the 300-member parliament, has already put forward the motion, but the PPP, with its 108 seats, is expected to oppose it. A successful impeachment vote would suspend Yoon from office pending a ruling by the Constitutional Court.
Opposition lawmakers, including Jo Seung-lae, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party, are remaining inside the National Assembly building in anticipation of the impeachment vote.
They believe Yoon may attempt to declare martial law again, prompting the opposition to act swiftly in response.
According to political analysts, Han’s sudden shift in position reflects the gravity of the situation, particularly after it was revealed that intelligence agencies were involved in arresting politicians and that military leaders had been complicit in the martial law order.
This has raised fears that Yoon could attempt to impose another martial law, further undermining the country’s democratic institutions.
Yoon’s approval rating has plummeted to a record low of 13%, following his handling of the martial law crisis and his subsequent failure to act against military officials involved in the illegal measure.
Meanwhile, a 120-member police investigation team has been set up to probe the charges of insurrection against Yoon and top officials. The investigation will look into whether Yoon and his allies had prepared for another martial law declaration.
In response to the crisis, South Korea’s Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun resigned, but other key figures, including Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, remain in office.
Investigations continue into the roles played by senior military officials, including General Park An-su, who acted as Yoon’s martial law commander.
Reports suggest that soldiers attempted to arrest opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and other lawmakers during the declaration, though Yoon’s office has denied giving such orders.
The martial law announcement, which was televised on Tuesday, shocked both the South Korean public and its international allies, including the United States, who were not informed of the decision until after it was made. The move brought back memories of South Korea’s autocratic past and raised concerns over the erosion of democratic norms.
With tensions rising, the opposition is rallying behind the impeachment motion, calling for a swift resolution to safeguard the republic’s democracy and prevent any further attempts to undermine the rule of law.
