The leader of South Korea’s ruling party has called for the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol, warning that there is a “great risk” that the president may attempt to declare martial law again.
On December 3rd, Yoon declared martial law but was forced to revoke the decision after lawmakers confronted the military in Parliament, voted to overturn the decision, and thousands of people protested outside the Parliament building.
“Considering the new facts that have emerged, I believe that the immediate suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s duties is necessary to protect the Republic of Korea and its people,” said Han Dong-hoon, the head of Yoon’s People Power Party, who had opposed the president’s removal just a day earlier.
“If Yoon remains in power, there is a great risk that extreme actions, similar to declaring martial law, will be repeated and could put the Republic of Korea and its people in great danger,” Han added.
Han stated that there is “reliable evidence” suggesting that Yoon had ordered the arrest of “key politicians.”
Yoon “does not accept that this illegal declaration of martial law was wrong,” and has failed to act against military officials who “illegally intervened,” Han further stated.
The opposition has already initiated a motion to remove Yoon from office, which is expected to be voted on Saturday. However, it remains unclear whether there will be enough votes to pass the motion.
The opposition bloc holds 192 seats in the 300-seat National Assembly, while Yoon’s party has 108. If the motion to suspend Yoon from the presidency passes, the decision for his removal would be left to the Constitutional Court.
According to media reports, Han is scheduled to meet with Yoon on December 6th. Yoon has not been seen in public since the early hours of Wednesday.
Legislator Jo Seung-lae, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party – the main opposition party – told AFP that all party members will remain inside the National Assembly building until the vote on Saturday’s motion.
He said this decision was made after “a lot of information the party has received” regarding the possibility of Yoon declaring martial law for a second time.
The South Korean police have begun investigating charges of insurrection, which were initiated by the opposition against President Yoon and other senior government officials.
A day earlier, the president’s office announced that Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun had resigned, but other Yoon allies, including Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, have remained in their positions.
Lawmakers have also criticized the head of the military, General Park An-su, who was responsible for implementing the martial law decision.
On December 5, Park said he was unaware of the situation and only realized what had happened when the president declared martial law during a televised address.
During his address, Yoon said the declaration of martial law was made to “protect liberal South Korea from threats posed by communist forces in North Korea and to eliminate anti-state elements that are obstructing the freedoms and happiness of the people.”
After the martial law declaration, security forces surrounded the National Assembly, and nearly 300 soldiers attempted to take control of the building.
However, parliamentary staff blocked the soldiers from entering, and the lawmakers inside the plenary chamber voted against Yoon’s decision.
