In a long speech that was televised, the president of South Korea remarked, “I apologize once more to the people who must have been surprised and anxious due to the martial law.” South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol defended his unexpected decision to impose martial law last week on Thursday, calling his political rivals “anti-state forces” and claiming that the suspension of civilian government was necessary to look into the election commission, which North Korea had “hacked.” Mr. Yoon claimed that imposing martial law for a brief period of time was a legitimate step to safeguard democracy. The president made these remarks after the head of his own People Power Party (PPP) declared that Mr. Yoon needed to be impeached because he had not resigned.
Yoon Suk Yeol :
Mr. Yoon promised to fight “until the very last minute” in the anticipated second impeachment vote in parliament on Saturday. Since the majority of the ruling party abstained from the vote a week ago, the first attempt to remove the president from office failed. This would be the second attempt. He remarked, “I apologize again to the people who must have been surprised and anxious due to the martial law,” during a long television address. The President attempted to defend his decision to declare emergency rule in the first place by arguing that the “criminal groups” who have slowed down state affairs and interfered with the rule of law must be prevented from seizing power at all costs.
The National Election Commission of South Korea was hacked by North Korea last year, but the independent organization refused to assist in an inquiry and examination of its system to ensure integrity. “Please trust me in my warm loyalty to the people,” he added. According to Mr. Yoon, the denial was sufficient to cast doubt on the validity of the election held in April 2024, which prompted him to impose martial law. The Democratic Party, the primary opposition party, gained full control of the one-chamber legislature after the President’s People Power Party was soundly defeated in the April election.
In the broadcast speech, Mr. Yoon declared, “The National Assembly, controlled by the sizable opposition party, has turned into a monster that destroys the constitutional order of liberal democracy.” He did, however, state that he would “not avoid legal and political responsibility regarding the declaration of martial law”
Presidential Investigation Under Criminal Scrutiny
The president of South Korea is being investigated criminally for alleged insurrection related to the disastrous imposition of martial law on December 3, which caused the most severe political crisis in the region’s fourth-largest economy in decades. Within hours following the pronouncement, lawmakers demanded that the President revoke the emergency decree by breaking past a police cordon, some of them by jumping the fence, and entering the nation’s parliament. Police attempted to raid the President’s office on Wednesday as part of a quickly accelerating investigation into the unrest from last week. As part of a “insurrection” investigation into his inner circle following the shocking events of last week that shocked South Korea’s allies, he has also been prohibited from traveling abroad.
Travel abroad is also prohibited for the general in charge of the martial law operation and the former interior minister. Meanwhile, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun has been arrested by prosecutors on charges of advising Mr. Yoon to declare martial law. As part of the ongoing investigation, two high-ranking law enforcement officials have also been arrested. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party, the primary opposition party, threatened to bring insurrectionary lawsuits against the presidential security and staff if they persisted in obstructing law enforcement. On Saturday, the opposition will also present another impeachment motion against the president; but, in order to remove Mr. Yoon, eight PPP members must vote with them.
Since Mr. Yoon has not resigned, the President’s party, which supported him in the initial impeachment vote, stated that it will support the Saturday move because he “had to be stripped of power.” PPP leader Han Dong-hoon stated shortly before Yoon’s televised speech that the party must support the impeachment bill in order to remove Yoon from office.