South Korea’s ruling party chief says President Yoon poses ‘great danger’, must step down

SEOUL - South Korea’s ruling party chief demanded on Dec 6 that President Yoon Suk Yeol be removed from office after

his abortive attempt to impose martial law

, warning there was a “significant risk” he could try to subvert civilian rule again.

Mr Yoon suspended civilian rule late on Dec 3 before being forced into a U-turn after lawmakers 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 Mr Han Dong-hoon, the head of Mr Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP), who just a day earlier had said he opposed impeaching Mr Yoon.

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 in televised comments.

Mr Han added that Mr Yoon “does not acknowledge that this illegal martial law is wrong” and has failed to act against the military officials who “illegally intervened”.

In addition, Mr Han said that “credible evidence” suggested that Mr Yoon had on the night of Dec 3 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”, Mr Han added.

Impeachment vote

The opposition had already

put forward a motion to impeach Mr Yoon

that will be voted on Dec 7 at around 7pm (6pm Singapore time), but it had been unclear if this 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 Mr 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,”Myongji University political science professor Shin Yul, told AFP.

“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,” said Prof Shin.

According to media reports, Mr Han was to meet the embattled President – who has not been seen since the early hours of Dec 4 – on Dec 6.

Lawmaker Jo Seung-lae, a spokesperson for the main opposition Democratic Party, told AFP that all the party’s lawmakers would remain inside the National Assembly building until the impeachment vote on the evening of Dec 7.

The decision was made in response to “a lot of tips the party has received” regarding a potential second attempt by Mr Yoon to declare martial law, Mr Jo said.

A fresh opinion poll issued on Dec 6 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 per cent.

Investigation

A 120-strong dedicated police investigation team has been set up to probe charges of insurrection, police told AFP, filed by the opposition against Mr 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, told AFP, adding there was currently no evidence of a second attempt.

On Dec 5, his 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 Mr Kim from leaving the country, Yonhap news agency reported.

Lawmakers on Dec 5 grilled senior figures, including army chief of staff General Park An-su, who acted as Mr Yoon’s martial law commander.

Gen Park said he was kept in the dark

until after the President had announced the imposition of martial law on live television late on Dec 3.

Mr Jo, the opposition lawmaker, said on Dec 6 that security camera footage indicated that soldiers were attempting to arrest opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and Mr Han, the PPP chief.

The head of South Korean special forces, Mr Kwak Jong-geun, said on Dec 6 that he had been ordered to “drag out” lawmakers inside the Parliament.

But Yonhap quoted Mr Yoon’s office as denying that he ordered the arrest or detention of lawmakers.

Seen on TV

In his address to the nation late on Dec 3, 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 Defence 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 Mr Yoon’s move.

Mr Lee, the opposition leader and chief of the Democratic Party, said on Dec 6: “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.” AFP