South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has little left to cling to power after his abrupt failed attempt to impose martial law in the country. While Parliament must vote on the dismissal of the head of state, the leader of his own party has withdrawn his support.
“If President Yoon continues to serve as president, there is a significant risk that extreme actions similar to the declaration of martial law will be repeated, which could put the Republic of Korea [nom officiel de la Corée du Sud] and its citizens in great dangerdeclared Friday, December 6, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party (PPP). Based on new evidence, I believe that a rapid suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol is necessary in order to safeguard the Republic of Korea and its people. »
Yoon Suk Yeol unexpectedly declared martial law late Tuesday and deployed the army to Seoul. He explained that he had declared this state of exception to protect “liberalize South Korea from threats from North Korean communist forces and to eliminate elements hostile to the state”in a context of standoff over the adoption of the 2025 budget.
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He was forced to backpedal six hours later after a vote in Parliament unanimously calling for the lifting of martial law, and under pressure from the streets.
Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the arrest of political leaders
In his speech in the form of an indictment, Mr. Han mentioned, on Friday, “credible evidence” that the president had ordered the arrest of prominent political leaders on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. “President Yoon Suk Yeol asked the head of the Counterintelligence Command (…) to arrest important politicians, calling them anti-state forces, and he mobilized intelligence agencies” to do it, he said.
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According to opposition lawmaker Jo Seung-lae, footage from Parliament's surveillance cameras shows that the military was seeking to arrest the leader of the Democratic Party (the main opposition force), Lee Jae-myung, the president of the National Assembly, Woo Won-shik, and even Mr. Han. Mr. Yoon's office assured that the latter had no “not given orders to arrest or detain members of the National Assembly”according to the Yonhap agency.
“We are receiving a lot of information regarding a second martial law. Until the vote on the impeachment law on Saturday, all members of the Democratic Party will remain in the main building of the National Assembly.also declared Mr. Jo.
If Mr. Yoon does not resign by then, the vote in Parliament on the impeachment of the president is scheduled for Saturday, December 7 at 7 p.m. local time (11 a.m. Paris time), according to the national agency Yonhap. On Thursday, Han Dong-hoon had affirmed that the presidential party would stand against the motion, but this change of discourse seems to guarantee its success, while the opposition, the majority in Parliament, only needs to rally eight elected officials from the PPP.
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If Parliament approves, by two-thirds – or 200 votes out of 300 members – the dismissal of Mr. Yoon, the latter will be suspended, pending the Constitutional Court validating his dismissal. A new presidential election must then be organized within sixty days. The interim would then be ensured by the Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo.
Targeted by investigation for rebellion
Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating has reached a low of 13 percent, according to a Gallup poll released Friday. The president has not been seen in public since announcing the lifting of martial law in the early hours of Wednesday. He is the subject of an investigation for “rebellion”police said Thursday. “It is an unforgivable crime, which cannot, must not and will not be forgiven”thundered Kim Seung-won, deputy of the Democratic Party.
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This crime is theoretically punishable by death, although this has not been applied in South Korea since 1997.
Demonstrations by thousands of South Koreans in front of places of power have increased since Wednesday to demand the departure of Mr. Yoon.
On Thursday, his cabinet announced the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. But other key officials in his government are hanging on, including Interior Minister Lee Sang-min. The opposition is also targeting other key allies of Mr. Yoon, including the short-lived martial law commander Park An-su, the army chief of staff.
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