The head of the People’s Power Party, Han Dong-hoon, calls for the departure of the head of state, claiming that he had ordered the arrest of important political leaders.
President Yoon Suk Yeol’s party called on Friday, December 6, for the “rapid” departure of South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol, believing that his retention in power represents a «grand danger» for the country after its failed coup at the start of the week. Yoon unexpectedly proclaimed martial law late Tuesday and deployed the army to Seoul, before being forced to backpedal six hours later under pressure from Parliament and the streets.
“In view of new evidence, I believe that a rapid suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol is necessary in order to safeguard the Republic of Korea (official name of South Korea, Editor’s note) and its population”People’s Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon said on Friday. These statements come as Parliament must vote on Saturday on an impeachment motion tabled by the opposition. Its adoption seems more and more inevitable if Yoon does not resign by then. The vote is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. local time on Saturday (10:00 GMT).
In his indictment speech on Friday, Han Dong-hoon spoke of “credible evidence” that the president had ordered the arrest of prominent political leaders on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. Yoon did nothing against military officials who are “intervened illegally” in this context and “does not recognize that this illegal martial law is a mistake”. South Korea could therefore run a «grand danger» if he remained in power, Han judged.
A popularity rating of 13%
On Thursday, Han Dong-hoon said the presidential party would stand against the motion. This change in discourse ultimately seems to guarantee its success, while the opposition, which has a majority in Parliament, only needs to rally eight elected officials from the PPP. If Parliament approves Yoon’s dismissal by a two-thirds vote, the latter will be suspended, pending the Constitutional Court validating his dismissal. A new presidential election must then be organized within 60 days. Yoon Suk Yeol’s approval rating has reached a low of 13 percent, according to a Gallup poll released Friday.
To everyone’s surprise, the president declared martial law on Tuesday evening and tried to muzzle Parliament where his camp is in the minority by sending the army, which had sealed the building. Demonstrators immediately gathered in front of the institution to demand the arrest of Yoon, who has since been the subject of an investigation for “rebellion” police said Thursday. This crime is theoretically punishable by death, although this has not been applied in South Korea since 1997.
The president has not been seen in public since announcing the lifting of martial law in the early hours of Wednesday. Yoon Suk Yeol explained that he had declared this state of exception to protect “South Korea liberalizes threats from North Korean communist forces and eliminates elements hostile to the state”in a context of standoff over the adoption of the 2025 budget.
TV
