[ad_1]
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yul apologized to his nation for his recent attempt to impose martial law hours before lawmakers impeached him on Saturday.
In a televised address to the nation, he also bowed as a gesture of remorse.
Yun said he would not seek to avoid legal and political responsibility for his decision, which he said was born out of desperation.
The speech was the embattled leader’s first public appearance since he rescinded the martial law order early on Wednesday, just six hours after it was announced and as parliament voted against the order after the army and The police cordon was violated.
“I am very sorry and sincerely apologize to those who are in shock,” Yoon said.
“I leave it to my party to take steps to stabilize the political situation in the future, including the issue of my tenure,” he said.
Han Dong-hoon, leader of South Korea’s ruling party, said after Yoon’s speech that the president was no longer in a position to carry out public duties and that his resignation was now inevitable.
On Friday, Han said that Yun was a danger to the country and needed to be removed from power, increasing pressure on Yun to step down even though members of his People’s Power Party (PPP) later called for his resignation. Confirmed formal opposition to impeachment.
Lawmakers will vote on Saturday on the main opposition Democratic Party’s motion to impeach Yun.
Yun shocked the nation late on Tuesday when he gave the military emergency powers to root out “anti-state forces” and crack down on political opponents who create obstruction.
Some PPP members urged Yoon to resign before the vote, saying they did not want a repeat of the 2016 impeachment of then-President Park Geun-hye, who faced several charges over an influence-peddling scandal. After months of candlelight protests, he stepped down. Its fall led to the imposition of the party and Liberal victories in the presidential and general elections.
In scenes reminiscent of those protests, thousands of protesters held candles outside parliament on Friday night demanding Yun’s impeachment. More protests are expected on Saturday ahead of the vote.
Prosecutors, the police and the Office of Corruption Investigation have all opened investigations against Yoon and senior officials involved in the martial law order, seeking to pursue charges of rebellion and abuse of power.
[ad_2]
Source link