Leaders of South Korea's ruling party said it was necessary to remove President Yun Seok-Yeol, who tried to impose martial law, from power for the country's security, but stopped short of urging party members to vote in favor of impeachment.
Yun shocked the public and his ruling People Power Party on Tuesday by announcing he would impose martial law to eradicate “anti-national forces” and defeat his obstructionist political opponents.
He reversed course about six hours after parliament, including some members of his own party, voted against the order.
Speaking on Friday, party leader Han Dong-hoon said Yoon had ordered the arrest of prominent politicians on the grounds that they were included in “anti-national forces” under martial law.
“If President Yoon continues in office, there is a serious risk that he will repeat extreme actions similar to the declaration of martial law, which could put the Republic of Korea and its people in great danger,'' he said. .
The main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, plans to vote on impeachment on Saturday evening, and the National Police has begun an investigation into Yun on suspicion of sedition by opposition parties and activists.
On Thursday, the ruling party said it opposed impeachment, but Mr. Han said that given “credible evidence” that Mr. Yoon intended to arrest and detain political leaders in the city of Gwacheon, just south of Seoul. He suggested that the position may be changing.
“Yesterday, I said that I would try not to pass this impeachment in order to prevent damage to the people and supporters from unexpected chaos, but in order to protect the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea, President Yun Seok-Yeong's immediate removal from office is necessary. I believe that there is.''I would like the public to understand this based on the newly revealed facts,'' Han said.
He did not explicitly call for impeachment or respond to reporters' requests for clarification.
“In light of the newly surfaced facts, I believe it is necessary to immediately suspend President Yun Seok-Yeol from her duties in order to protect the Republic of Korea and its people,'' Han said.
Mr. Han said that Mr. Yoon had not taken any personnel action against the military officials who “unlawfully interfered.”
“Furthermore, he does not accept that this illegal martial law is wrong.”
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, said the declaration of martial law was a rebellion launched by the president to maintain and expand his power.
“This is an act of rebellion,” he said. “This is a pro-military coup.”
Partnership with Reuters and Agence France-Presse
