South Korea’s ruling party chief demanded that President Yoon Suk Yeol be stripped of office, warning there was a “significant risk” he could try to impose martial law again.
President Yoon late Tuesday declared martial law before being forced into a U-turn after politicians dramatically faced down soldiers at parliament and voted to overturn the measure, as thousands protested outside.
“Considering the newly emerging facts, I believe that a swift suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s duties is necessary to safeguard the Republic of Korea and its people,” said Han Dong-hoon, the head of Yoon’s People Power Party, who only a day earlier had said he opposed President Yoon’s impeachment.
If Mr Yoon remains, “there is a significant risk that extreme actions similar to the martial law declaration could be repeated, which could put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger,” Mr Han said.
Mr Han said that “credible evidence” suggested that President Yoon had ordered the arrest of “key politicians” and for them to be placed in a holding facility.
Mr Yoon “does not acknowledge that this illegal martial law is wrong” and has failed to act against the military officials who “illegally intervened”, Han added.
The opposition had already put forward a motion to impeach Mr Yoon that will be voted on at around 10am tomorrow, but it had been unclear if it would pass.
But Mr Han’s comments represent a stunning U-turn a day after he had said the PPP would block the motion, which needs a two-thirds majority to pass.
The opposition bloc holds 192 seats in the 300-strong parliament, while the PPP has 108. A successful vote would suspend Yoon from office pending a ruling by the Constitutional Court.
“While there may still be a few ruling party members supporting Yoon Suk Yeol, it seems that Han’s statements today are significantly influenced by the gravity of the situation, particularly the mobilisation of intelligence agencies to arrest politicians,” Shin Yul, professor of political science at Myongji University, said.
“It appears that Han and the party leaders have concluded there is actually a significant possibility that President Yoon may declare a second martial law,” Shin Yu said.
According to media reports, HMt an was to meet the embattled president later, who has not been seen since the early hours of Wednesday.
Jo Seung-lae, a spokesperson for the main opposition Democratic Party, said that all the party’s politician would remain inside the National Assembly building until the impeachment vote on tomorrow evening.
The decision was made in response to “a lot of tips the party has received” regarding a potential second attempt by Yoon to declare martial law, Jo said.
A fresh opinion poll issued today put backing for the 63-year-old president, who has lurched from crisis to crisis since taking office in 2022, at a record low of 13%.
A 120-strong dedicated police investigation team has been set up to probe charges of insurrection, police said, filed by the opposition against Yoon and a host of top officials.
“If evidence arises during the investigation suggesting preparations for a second martial law, we will pursue it,” officer Kim San-ho, who is overseeing the investigation, adding there was currently no evidence of a second attempt.
Yesterday, Mr Yoon’s office said that Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun had resigned, but other key allies, including Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, remain in office.
Prosecutors have also banned Kim from leaving the country, Yonhap news agency reported.
Politicians have been grilling senior figures, including army chief of staff General Park An-su, who acted as Yoon’s martial law commander.
General Park said he was kept in the dark until after the president had announced the imposition of martial law on live television late Tuesday.
Opposition politician Jo Seung-lae said Friday that security camera footage indicated that soldiers were attempting to arrest opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, and PPP chief Han.
The head of South Korean special forces, Kwak Jong-geun, said that he had been ordered to “drag out” politicians inside the parliament.
But Yonhap quoted President Yoon’s office as denying that he ordered the arrest or detention of lawmakers.
In his late Tuesday address to the nation, Mr Yoon had said that martial law would “safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements plundering people’s freedom and happiness”.
The bombshell announcement brought back painful memories of South Korea’s autocratic past and caught its allies off guard, with the US administration only finding out via television.
Media reports said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has cancelled a planned visit to South Korea, where nearly 30,000 US troops are stationed, next week.
Security forces sealed the National Assembly, helicopters landed on the roof, and almost 300 soldiers tried to lock down the building.
But as parliamentary staffers blocked the soldiers with sofas and fire extinguishers, enough MPs got inside, many climbed walls to enter, and voted down President Yoon’s move.
“We cannot entrust the operation of the government to a president who threatens the lives of the sovereign people through unconstitutional and illegal actions, even for a moment,” Democratic Party chief Lee said.