Facing an impeachment vote, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a televised apology Saturday for his earlier declaration of martial law. He stated he would not repeat this action and would leave navigating the current political crisis, including matters concerning his presidency, to his party.
President Yoon attributed the declaration to desperation, expressing remorse for the resulting public anxiety and inconvenience. He offered a sincere apology for the alarm caused.
His Tuesday declaration, which branded parliament a “den of criminals” obstructing state affairs and vowed to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces,” precedes Saturday afternoon’s impeachment vote. The opposition, holding 192 of the 300 parliamentary seats, requires only eight additional votes to secure the necessary two-thirds majority for impeachment.
While Yoon’s party called for his removal Friday, they maintain formal opposition to the impeachment process itself.
Opposition lawmakers, viewing the martial law declaration as a self-coup, have included rebellion charges in the impeachment motion.
Impeachment would suspend Yoon’s powers pending a Constitutional Court decision, with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo assuming presidential duties. A new presidential election would be held within 60 days following removal from office.
The Tuesday deployment of special forces around the parliament building and the subsequent overflight of army helicopters were withdrawn after the National Assembly unanimously overturned the martial law declaration, forcing its immediate revocation.
This marked South Korea’s first martial law declaration in over four decades. Subsequent protests featured thousands of demonstrators demanding Yoon’s removal.
Prime Minister Han revealed intelligence suggesting that during the martial law period, Yoon directed the arrest and detention of key politicians, accused of “anti-state activities,” by the country’s defense counterintelligence commander.
Following Yoon’s address, Prime Minister Han reiterated his call for the president’s resignation, citing his unsuitability for carrying out official duties.
According to lawmaker Kim Byung-kee, National Intelligence Service First Deputy Director Hong Jang-won revealed in a closed-door briefing that President Yoon, post-martial law declaration, ordered assistance in detaining key figures including Prime Minister Han, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik.