“I am very sorry and would like to sincerely apologise to the people who were shocked,” Yoon said in his brief televised speech.
It had been speculated that he would use the address to the nation – his first since declaring martial law – to resign but he did not do so, instead saying that he would delegate the work of stabilising the situation to his ruling party.
He also did not mention impeachment.
The opposition is pushing for a vote on the motion to impeach Yoon on Saturday. It needs at least eight members of Yoon’s party to vote in favour for the motion to pass with a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said he was disappointed with President Yoon’s comments on Friday and that they would only increase the public’s sense of anger and betrayal.
Lee added that he would do his best to remove the president from office.