Han Dong-hoon, leader of South Korea's ruling People's Power party, said he could no longer maintain his position after his dramatic decision over the weekend to support the impeachment of President Yun Seok-yeol. resigned.
“In 2024, martial law will be imposed in South Korea, a developed country. How angry and disappointed must you be?” he said at a press conference on Monday.
His announcement came as the Constitutional Court announced it had begun considering impeachment against Yun, but did not provide further details. According to Yonhap News Agency, investigators also plan to question the president this week.
Han, a former justice minister and one of Yun's closest allies, defended Yun's decision to break with the president after the president tried to impose martial law earlier this month.
“nevertheless [the martial law] This was done by a president produced by our party, who misunderstood that defending illegal martial law that mobilized the military is a betrayal of this great country.'' He added that he was “afraid” of the possibility of bloodshed between civilians and soldiers if he did so. Not lifted.
“I tried in every way to find a better path for this country other than impeachment, but in the end I couldn't. It's all because of my shortcomings. I'm sorry.”
The resignation marks the final rift in the once-close alliance between Han and Yoon, who worked together in the prosecutor's office before Yoon became president.
Relations between the two parties began to show signs of strain earlier this year after Mr Han broke ranks and suggested the presidential couple could marry. you should apologize Regarding the suspicion that the first lady received a luxury Dior bag.
The breaking point came after Mr. Han's revelations. was among some politiciansThey included opposition figures whom Yun had ordered arrested during his brief declaration of martial law.
Mr. Han then made a request to ruling party members. support impeachment of the presidentYun said it posed a “great danger” to democracy. His position marks an unusual reversal for a man who served as Yun's justice minister and was long considered his closest political ally and disciple.
The rift reflects a deeper rift within South Korea's conservative movement, with Mr. Han representing a younger faction that appears more reform-minded and Mr. Yun increasingly at odds with his more traditional power base. It's increasing.
On Monday, all six sitting Constitutional Court judges attended the first meeting of the opposition-led National Assembly on the impeachment of Yun, which passed on Saturday. The court has given up to six months to decide whether to dismiss Yoon or reinstate him.
If Yoon is removed from office, a national election must be held within 60 days to choose his successor. Until then, his powers will be suspended and Prime Minister Han Deok-soo will be appointed acting president.
Mr. Yin and a number of senior officials face possible charges of sedition, abuse of power, and obstructing the people's right to short-term martial law.
Yonhap News reported that a joint investigative team from the police, Ministry of National Defense, and anti-corruption agencies is scheduled to summon Yoon for questioning on Wednesday.
Investigators could not immediately be reached for confirmation.
On Sunday, Yoon did not respond to a summons for questioning by prosecutors in a separate investigation, Yonhap News reported.
In an emergency televised address to the nation late at night on December 3, Mr. Yun accused the rebels of paralyzing the government with “anti-national activities” and announced the imposition of martial law.
The imposition of martial law, the first in more than 40 years, lasted only six hours and hundreds of military and police officers sent to parliament by Mr. Yun withdrew after the presidential order was overturned. No major acts of violence occurred.
