The leader of South Korea’s ruling People Power Party has warned that president Yoon Suk Yeol could pose a severe risk to the nation’s safety, backing calls for his suspension following a failed attempt to impose martial law earlier this week.
Speaking during a party meeting on Friday, Han Dong Hoon accused the president of planning actions that could destabilise the country.
“If President Yoon continues to hold the office of the presidency, there is a significant risk that extreme actions similar to martial law declaration could be repeated, which could put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger,” he said.
This comes amid reports that Mr Yoon and Mr Han will meet on Friday afternoon upon the president’s request.
Mr Yoon was reportedly planning to appear in parliament but has decided not to, according to BBC News. The report, however, did not indicate why he had planned to do so.
“He suddenly wants to pop in here? No way,” Democratic Party member Jeong Jun Ho was quoted as saying by the outlet. “He didn’t consult or notify us.”
The South Korean special warfare commander and National Assembly speaker have said they would refuse to implement a new order for martial law, local media reported.
The acting defence minister, Kim Seon Ho, has sought to allay the fears around reimposition of martial law by the president, calling such reports untrue.
He also said in a media briefing he would not obey any order to implement another declaration of martial law.
Kwak Jong Geun also said that former defence minister Kim Yong Hyun, who resigned on Thursday, had issued an order to “drag out lawmakers” who gathered at the parliament to vote down Mr Yoon’s martial law decree.
Mr Yoon declared martial law late on Tuesday, claiming that it was needed to counter “anti-state forces”. The decree shocked the country and several members of his own party joined the opposition to overturn it through a parliamentary vote within six hours.
The main opposition Democratic Party has scheduled an impeachment vote against the president for Saturday evening. Getting the motion through would require the support of 200 of the National Assembly’s 300 members. The opposition parties hold 192 seats and would need at least eight ruling party lawmakers to vote with them.
Mr Han, considered an ally of Mr Yoon, indicated that recent revelations about the president’s conduct during the martial law period had forced him to reconsider his view of him. “I said yesterday that I would try not to pass this impeachment in order to prevent damage to the people and supporters caused by the unprepared chaos, but I believe president Yoon Suk Yeol’s immediate suspension of office is necessary to protect the Republic of Korea and its people in light of the newly revealed facts,” he said.
The leader alleged that Mr Yoon had ordered the arrest of key political figures under martial law. The president’s office disputed the claim, the Yonhap news agency reported.
South Korea’s spy agency chief also backed the claim, saying they did not receive any orders from the president to arrest lawmakers.
Mr Yoon’s martial law decree drew sharp domestic and international criticism. Democratic Party leader Lee Jae Myung accused him of attempting a “self-coup” and said it had caused damage to South Korea’s democratic image.
“Yoon’s martial law enforcement amounted to rebellion and a self-coup. It has paralysed our foreign policy and brought shame to the Republic of Korea,” he said in a televised speech on Friday.
The US expressed concern about the imposition of martial law and secretary of state Antony Blinken welcomed its swift reversal during a call with South Korean foreign minister Cho Tae Yul.
“The American people stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of the ROK and will continue to do so in the face of any provocations or threats to the Alliance,” he said, referring to South Korea by its official name.
US defence secretary Lloyd Austin cancelled a visit to South Korea, citing the ongoing political crisis.
Mr Yoon’s actions sparked widespread demonstrations calling for his resignation and impeachment. The Korean Metal Workers’ Union began hourly strikes on Thursday and threatened indefinite industrial action if the president remained in office beyond 11 December.
Adding to the political instability, the ruling party was reported to be divided over the impeachment. While some lawmakers argued that impeaching Mr Yoon would preserve South Korea’s democratic integrity, others feared the political fallout could mirror the chaos following former president Park Geun Hye’s impeachment in 2016.
“Each party lawmaker must now decide whether they want to take the people’s side or become collaborators of martial law forces,” senior ruling party lawmaker Cho Kyoung Tae said.
Yoon Sang Hyun, a prominent party figure, voiced opposition to the impeachment. “We cannot impeach the president tomorrow and hand over the regime to Lee Jae Myung’s Democratic Party. It’s not for the sake of protecting president Yoon Suk Yeol but for the sake of the Republic of Korea’s system and our children’s future,” he said.
South Korea’s prosecutor general Shim Woo Jung announced a plan to investigate allegations of rebellion against Mr Yoon.
Sitting presidents in the Asian country enjoy constitutional immunity, but it doesn’t apply to charges of treason or rebellion.
The prosecutor also imposed a travel ban on Mr Kim, the former defence minister, who reportedly played a key role in getting Mr Yoon to declare martial law.
The defence ministry has also suspended three commanders over imposition of martial law, it announced on Friday. Military prosecutors filed a request to ban 10 officers from leaving the country in relation to the martial law imposition, the defence ministry said.
The Democratic Party was considering filing a legal complaint against the ruling party’s floor leader, Choo Kyung Ho, for allegedly facilitating Mr Yoon’s martial law enforcement by redirecting lawmakers away from the National Assembly.
Mr Han’s fallout with one-time ally Mr Yoon has added another layer of complexity to the impeachment debate within the ruling party. The leader’s remarks on Thursday reflected a growing rift in the party.
“Considering the newly emerging facts, I believe a swift suspension of president Yoon Suk Yeol’s duties is necessary to safeguard the Republic of Korea and its people,” Mr Han said.
The uncertainty surrounding the president’s leadership has plunged South Korea into a political crisis, with implications for both domestic stability and international relations.
As lawmakers prepare to vote on the impeachment motion, the country is waiting to see whether its democratic institutions will survive this challenge.
Additional reporting by agencies.
