The future of South Korean President Yoon Seok-yul still hangs in the balance after his People’s Power Party (PPP) defeated an impeachment motion linked to his brief imposition of martial law.
Despite mass protests calling for his resignation, the PPP supported Yun, reportedly securing a promise from him to step down in the future.
His survival may be short-lived, as public discontent continues to grow following his controversial decision to deploy troops and helicopters to parliament amid rising tensions.
On Sunday, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said that through the orderly early resignation of the president, we will reduce confusion for South Korea and its people, and resolve the political situation in a stable manner. And liberals will restore democracy.
“He will not interfere in state affairs, including foreign affairs, before the president resigns,” Han said after meeting with Prime Minister Han Deok-soo.
The prime minister vowed to “strengthen the emergency economic response system to closely monitor and promptly respond to risk factors in the financial and foreign exchange markets”.
But experts say the situation may not be sustainable, with the opposition announcing it will seek to impeach Yun again and calling for his arrest on Sunday, while protests are expected to continue until his removal. is
“We will have a politically dead president – basically unable to govern anymore – and millions of people taking to the streets every week until Yun is removed,” said Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo. AFP.
Columnist Park Chul-hyun said, “Starting next week, the candlelight protests will attract even larger crowds, the younger generation will rise up, and the PPP, which is only living for today, will will inevitably explode into internal strife.”
sorry
On Saturday before the vote, Yoon, 63, reappeared for the first time in three days and apologized for the “concern and inconvenience”. He said that he will leave the decision of his fate to the party.
Massive crowds – police said there were 150,000 people, organizers 1 million – gathered outside parliament into the evening to pressure lawmakers to oust the president.
Many wore elaborate costumes, carried homemade flags and waved colorful glow sticks and LED candles as K-pop tunes blared from the speakers.
“Even though we didn’t get the result we wanted today, I’m neither discouraged nor disappointed because we will get it eventually,” protester Jo Ah Gyeong, 30, said after the impeachment vote.
“I’m going to keep coming here until we get it,” she said.
Rebellion
Regardless of the political situation, police are investigating Yun and others for alleged sedition over Tuesday night’s extraordinary events.
Earlier on Sunday, police reportedly arrested Kim Yong-hyun, who stepped down as defense minister on Wednesday and was placed under a travel ban.
Kim’s arrest came about six hours after he appeared for questioning at 1:30 a.m. Yonhap Reported
Declaring martial law late on Tuesday, Yoon said it would protect South Korea from “threats posed by North Korean communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements that are robbing the people of their freedom and happiness.” “.
Security forces sealed off the National Assembly, helicopters landed on the roof and around 300 soldiers tried to lock down the building.
But as parliamentary staff blocked the soldiers with couches and fire extinguishers, enough MPs poured in – many climbing walls to get in – and rejected Yun’s move.
The incident brought back painful memories of South Korea’s authoritarian past and blindsided its allies, the US administration learned only through television.
“This is a country we’ve spent our whole lives building,” said Shin Jae-hyung, 66, who faced arrest and torture in the 1970s and ’80s when he led successive military-led coups. Continued fighting with governments.
The head of South Korea’s special forces said he had been ordered to “drag” lawmakers out of parliament.
The alleged arrest list includes opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and PPP leader Han.
“Arrest all suspects involved in the coup, including the presidential office and the Ministry of National Defense, and conduct raids on all relevant institutions,” the three opposition parties said in a joint statement on Sunday.