Yoon Suk Yeol Refuses to Stand Down

South Korea’s ruling party have thrown their support behind attempts to impeach embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol (right) over his ill-fated decision to declare martial law that sparked a political crisis and widespread public anger in the country. 

 

The announcement came moments before Yoon delivered a defiant speech Thursday in which he attempted to justify his hugely controversial martial law decision and rejected growing calls from across the political spectrum for him to stand down. 

 

Not to mention that he downplayed his actions, saying the opposition was “creating a lot of false incitement to drag the president down by creating (the) crime of treason”. And his claim he declared martial law “to maintain order, not to dismiss the National Assembly nor to paralyze their function”. In fact, he even brazenly declared: "I will fight until the end".  

  

The People Power Party had initially refused to back impeachment, hoping instead Yoon would resign from office. But their leadership said attempts to persuade him had made no progress. 

 

The main opposition Democratic Party are preparing a new impeachment motion against Yoon, with a vote expected today itself. The president survived an impeachment bid last weekend when PPP members boycotted the vote. But after his party threw their weight behind impeachment, party leader Han Dong-hoon said PPP lawmakers were now free to vote according to their “belief and conscience”. 

 

Police have already launched an investigation into Yoon and other top officials on treason allegations. And on Tuesday, lawmakers approved a special counsel to investigate whether Yoon committed insurrection and abused his power by issuing martial law. Yoon has also been barred from leaving the country. 

 

And last week, South Korean prosecutors detained former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, who allegedly recommended the martial law imposition and resigned in the wake of the scandal. Kim attempted to end his own life in custody late Tuesday, according to the head of the country’s correctional service. 

 

On Thursday, lawmakers voted to impeach Justice Minister Park Sung-jae and National Police Agency Chief Cho Ji-ho. 

 

Meanwhile, the roars of anger from the thousands of protesting citizens on the streets every night are getting louder and louder.