South Korea’s SEOUL As his party stated that it opposed a move to impeach him, South Korean prosecutors launched an insurrection investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol over his unsuccessful attempt to establish martial law in the important U.S. ally on Thursday.
As Yoon accepted the resignation of his defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, who was instrumental in the tumultuous six-hour martial law period that started late Tuesday local time and concluded early Wednesday morning, the vote’s timing was revealed.
Kim’s replacement is Choi Byung-hyuk, a retired four-star army general who serves as South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Yoon’s chief of staff, Chung Jin-seok, told reporters that he is a man of principles and a trusted member of the military.
Kim resigned on Wednesday, claiming that I alone bear full responsibility for the mess.
In a statement, he stated, “I am fully responsible for all actions taken by all military soldiers regarding the Emergency Martial Law, as they were all carried out in accordance with my orders and directives.”
Contrary to what opposition politicians and South Korean media have claimed, he did not specifically address whether he was the one who proposed emergency martial law.
After opposition members indicated that Kim would attempt to leave the country, the National Office of Investigation announced Thursday that it had issued an order prohibiting him from traveling abroad. Kim may also be charged with insurrection.
On Wednesday, Yoon’s office said that all senior presidential secretaries, including his chief of staff, had also submitted their resignations. However, it supported his imposition of martial law, the first in South Korea since 1980, as being required due to a deadlock with opposition members that Yoon claimed had immobilized the administration.
A populace that had endured decades of military-authoritarian rule prior to South Korea’s transformation into a thriving democracy and the tenth-largest economy in the world immediately opposed the declaration of martial law, which prohibited any political action and restricted the media.
After MPs broke through a security cordon to reach the National Assembly in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and unanimously rejected the decision, Yoon, 63, who previously served as the nation’s chief prosecutor, revoked it. Additionally, protesters showed up at the legislature, where several got into altercations with security personnel.
Since making the announcement in a surprise late-night TV address on Tuesday, he has not appeared in public.
In the 50 million-person nation, lifting the order did little to calm widespread outrage and shock. Demonstrators marched against Yoon and staged a candlelight vigil in downtown Seoul on Wednesday night, demanding his resignation.
In keeping with a South Korean tradition, a marine veteran and his spouse shaved their hair in protest outside the presidential office on Thursday. Supporters of Yoon also held a few rallies.
As people recover from the first shock of the events, protests against Yoon and requests for his resignation may intensify, according to Jean H. Lee, an adjunct fellow and Northeast Asia expert at the East-West Center research group in Honolulu.
She claimed that people were in disbelief. However, I believe that’s evolving into genuine dissatisfaction and rage.
Lee continued, “It’s difficult for me to see how he can recover from this.”
An uncertain vote
Gen. Park Ahn-soo, who was appointed commander of martial law while serving as army chief of staff, informed MPs that he was made aware of the directive by Yoon’s broadcast announcement. He said that although he signed and issued the declaration of martial law, he lacked the knowledge necessary to judge its legitimacy and had recommended to the defense minister that it be given additional consideration.
“I have never had any intention of turning arms against the people of this nation,” he stated, adding that he did not issue or supervise the order to send troops to the National Assembly since he was concentrating on setting up the operations room.
Park claimed that on Wednesday, he submitted his resignation.
Defense Vice Minister Kim Seon-ho said that his boss, Kim Yong-hyun, had given the order to deploy troops. The vice minister said he disagreed with the order and had voiced his opposition to the mobilization of military men, adding that he also heard about it via the news.
He told the public on Thursday how very sorry he was and how devastated he was.
In my capacity as national defense deputy minister, I admit that I was unable to recognize and stop these acts as they were happening. The soldiers in the National Assembly were not carrying live fire, he added, adding, “I accept full responsibility and will ensure accountability going forward.”
Rob York, director for regional affairs at Pacific Forum, a Honolulu-based foreign policy research firm, said Yoon seems to be trying to create a narrative that removes it from his control after his defense minister was removed.
However, he stated that the Korean public is not likely to give him the benefit of the doubt and that the declaration was ultimately his call.
A Gallup Korea poll last week placed Yoon’s approval rating at 19%, indicating that he was already unpopular. York said, “I suspect his popularity ratings are going to plummet further, possibly into the single digits.”
Legislators will vote on the Yoon impeachment resolution on Saturday at approximately 7 p.m. (5 a.m. ET), according to a statement released Thursday by the main opposition Democratic Party. It was unclear if members of Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) would abstain from voting or vote against the measure.
Articles of impeachment against Yoon were filed on Wednesday by 191 MPs from six opposition parties and one independent lawmaker. The resolution must receive a two-thirds majority vote in the unicameral National Assembly in order to be approved.
According to PPP leaders, the party opposed the impeachment motion even though they rejected Yoon’s proclamation of martial law and requested him to leave the party. The proposal may not pass unless a number of PPP MPs defect from their party and back it, as the opposition coalition controls 192 seats, or just less than two-thirds of the 300-member legislature.
If the motion doesn’t pass the first time, opposition MPs said they would keep trying until Yoon is removed from office. The Constitutional Court would next hold a trial to decide whether to affirm the impeachment if the motion is approved; a judgment must be made within 180 days.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will temporarily assume Yoon’s responsibilities as he remained at the presidential mansion until the court’s decision.
Kurt Campbell, the deputy secretary of state for the United States, stated on Wednesday that Yoon had made a grave mistake in deciding to impose martial law.
He claimed that despite their strong political differences, progressives and conservatives quickly came together to oppose the decision, demonstrating the resilience of South Korean democracy.
At a gathering hosted by the Aspen Strategy Forum in Washington, he stated, “This is a powerful symbol of the fact that people were willing to come out and make clear that this was a deeply illegitimate process,” according to Reuters.
The U.S. secretary of state, Antony Blinken, denied that there was an intelligence failure but admitted that the Biden administration was unaware of Yoon’s remarks beforehand.
In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, he stated, “We are definitely not routinely informed of every decision that any partner may be making anywhere in the world at any given time.”
He went on to say that it is crucial that this process go amicably and in accordance with the constitution and the rule of law.
Jennifer Jett reported from Hong Kong, and Stella Kim from Seoul.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!