South Korea ruling party leader says country risks ‘great danger’ unless President Yoon suspended | South Korea
South Korea’s ruling party leader said President Yoon Suk-yeol must be removed from power for the country’s safety are trying to impose martial lawbut did not call on members to vote for impeachment.
Yun shocked the nation and his own ruling People’s Power Party on Tuesday when he announced he was imposing martial law to root out “anti-state forces” and crack down on obstructionist political opponents.
He reversed course about six hours later after parliament, including some members of his party, voted to oppose the decree.
Speaking on Friday, party leader Han Dong-hoon said Yun had ordered the arrest of prominent politicians on the grounds that they were among those “anti-state forces” during martial law.
“(If) President Yoon continues to hold the office of president, there is a significant risk that extreme actions like the declaration of martial law will be repeated, which could put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger,” he said.
The main opposition Democratic Party has scheduled an impeachment vote for Saturday night, and the national police an investigation was launched in Yun on allegations of sedition filed by an opposition party and activists.
On Thursday, the ruling party said it opposed impeachment, but Han suggested the position could change in light of “credible evidence” that Yoon intended to arrest and detain political leaders in Gwacheon, south of Seoul.
“I said yesterday that I would try not to push through this impeachment to prevent damage to the people and supporters caused by the unprepared chaos, but I believe that the immediate termination of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s office is necessary to protect the Republic of Korea and its people in light of the newly revealed facts,” Khan said.
He did not specifically call for impeachment, nor did he respond to reporters when asked for clarification.
“Given the newly emerging facts, I believe that a swift suspension of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s duties is necessary to protect the Republic of Korea and its people,” Han said.
Han said Yun had not taken any personal action against military officials who “interfered illegally.”
“Furthermore, he does not recognize that this illegal martial law is wrong,” he said.
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said the declaration of martial law was a rebellion launched by the president to maintain or expand his power.
“It’s an act of rebellion,” he said. “This is a pro-military coup.”
With Reuters and Agence France-Presse
