South Korean President Yoon Seok-yul issued a public apology this week for his attempt to impose martial law but did not step down just hours before a planned impeachment vote, facing intense pressure to resign – even as his Even from some people in his party.
In a televised address to the nation on Saturday, Yoon said he would not shirk legal and political responsibility for his decision to impose emergency measures of martial law for the first time in South Korea since 1980.
“I am very sorry and sincerely apologize to those who were traumatized,” Yoon said, promising that no second attempt would be made.
“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, standing in front of a South Korean flag after concluding his brief remarks. He said while bowing.
The speech was the embattled leader’s first public appearance since he revoked the martial law order early Wednesday, just six hours after declaring it and rejecting an armed military raid and police siege by parliament. The decree was later voted against, forcing the president to rescind it. order it.
Han Dong-hoon, leader of Yun’s People’s Power Party (PPP), said after the speech that the president was no longer in a position to fulfill his public responsibilities and that his resignation was now inevitable.
On Friday, Han said Yun was a threat to the country and needed to be removed from power. On Saturday, Han met with the country’s Prime Minister Han Deok-soo to discuss the crisis, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported.
Under the constitution, a prime minister appointed by Yoon becomes South Korea’s acting president if Yoon resigns or is impeached.
If Yun leaves office before the end of his single five-year term in May 2027, the constitution requires presidential elections to be held within 60 days of his departure.
Lawmakers will vote at 5pm local time (08:00 GMT) on the main opposition Democratic Party’s motion to impeach Yun. Opposition leaders said they plan to reconsider the motion again on Wednesday if it fails.
Prosecutors, 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.
Many in South Korea are still reeling from the president’s shock announcement late Tuesday night, which called for an unspecified threat from “North Korean communist forces,” and “unabashedly pro-North Korean forces.” had given emergency powers to the army to eradicate .
Yun said martial law was necessary, accusing opposition members in the National Assembly of launching unprecedented impeachment efforts against members of his administration, effectively paralyzing key government functions, and mismanaging the budget. which damaged the basic functions of the government. including public safety.
Yoon’s move plunged Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a key US military ally into its biggest political crisis in decades, and threatened to shatter South Korea’s reputation as a democratic success story.