South Korean President Yun Seok-Yeol has vowed to “fight to the end” against attempts to remove him from office following the brief imposition of martial law. Police investigating the president for sedition have reportedly attempted to raid his office again. .
In a defiant and long televised address on Thursday, Mr. Yun defended last week's shocking decision to impose martial law, a measure aimed at halting political activity, the press and civil liberties, and declared it legal. He denied any attempt at incitement, saying it was an act of government. Rebellion.
Two days before the National Assembly is scheduled to vote a second time on his impeachment, Yoon repeatedly claimed that he was trying to protect the country from anti-national forces.
“I will fight to the end to prevent the forces and criminal groups that are responsible for paralyzing the national government and destroying the constitutional order from threatening the future of the Republic of Korea,” Yoon said.
He added that the declaration of martial law, which lasted just six hours before being passed by parliament, was aimed at defending liberal democracy and constitutional order from attacks by the liberal opposition.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Thursday that police attempted to search Mr. Yoon's office, a day after an initial search was thwarted by presidential security guards. It was not immediately clear whether the second raid was successful.
Speculation has increased that the future of South Korean politics will be decided at the ballot box after the ruling party selected veteran lawmaker Kwon Sung-dong as its new floor representative. Despite being close to Yoon, Kwon said he would prepare for the “presidential election that may be held soon.”
In his speech, Yun insisted that his martial law did not amount to rebellion and would not be subject to criminal investigation.
“The rebels are currently doing a knife dance of confusion, claiming that the imposition of martial law is an act of rebellion. But was that really the case?” Yun said.
“I would like to once again apologize to those who were surprised and worried by martial law. Please believe in my warm loyalty to the people.”
The conservative Yun has been plagued by controversies during his tenure, many centered around his wife, but last weekend's opposition-led impeachment vote left all but three members of his People Power Party behind. All of them refused to participate, so they survived.
His remarks came hours before reports that the main liberal opposition Democratic Party was expected to introduce a new impeachment motion and that a vote would be held on Saturday night.
Han Dong-hoon, leader of Mr. Yoon's own party, said Thursday that the president should be immediately suspended from office following the brief imposition of martial law last week. Han said the only way out is for ruling party members to vote in favor of impeachment.
Yun's declaration of martial law on December 3 sparked political turmoil and protests calling for his resignation.
On Wednesday, Yun's office resisted attempts by police to search the premises.
The investigation is focusing on whether Yun and other military and government officials involved in the imposition of martial law staged a rebellion. If convicted of treason, the maximum penalty is death.
Earlier this week, Yun's former defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, who played a key role in the rebellion, was arrested on suspicion of abuse of power. He became the first person to be formally arrested in connection with martial law.
Kim, one of Yoon's closest aides, is accused of recommending martial law to Yoon and of sending troops to the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers from voting. Eventually, enough members succeeded in entering the chamber and unanimously rejected Yun's decree, forcing the Cabinet to lift it before dawn on December 4th.
