Opposition grows to South Korea’s president as he faces impeachment
SEOUL, South Korea — President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea grew increasingly isolated Friday, after the head of his ruling party came out in support of impeaching the president and the country’s military said it would not follow any orders to reimpose martial law.
In a surprise about-face, the leader of the governing People Power Party, or PPP, called Yoon unfit to lead South Korea after his short-lived martial law decree earlier this week catapulted the country into turmoil.
“I think that President Yoon Suk Yeol should be suspended from office as soon as possible,” said Han Dong-hoon during an emergency party leadership meeting.
It was not clear how many members of the party shared Han’s view. But his comments increased the likelihood that the impeachment bill against Yoon would gain enough support to pass through the National Assembly.
An impeachment vote is scheduled for Saturday evening. At least eight votes from Yoon’s governing camp are needed to impeach the president.
Han joined opposition lawmakers in warning that if Yoon stays in office, he might try to impose martial law again in a desperate attempt to hold onto power. In a powerful rebuttal to Yoon, the defense ministry said that even if he did, the military would not follow. And the country’s special forces command, which joined Yoon’s unsuccessful attempt to establish martial law, said it would not join another.
“I want to make it clear that it will never happen,” Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-geun said during an interview he gave to two opposition lawmakers that was broadcast live on YouTube on Friday, where he was asked about the possibility of another martial law attempt. “Even if I get such an order, I will reject it.”
A broader closed-door meeting of the PPP’s 108 lawmakers took place inside the National Assembly but adjourned without reaching consensus on Yoon’s fate. Yoon, though expected at the meeting, didn’t show up. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said he could not guarantee the president’s safety as angry opposition members rallied at the Assembly’s entrance, chanting “Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol!”
If impeached, Yoon would be suspended from office until the Constitutional Court decides whether to reinstate or remove him.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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