South Korean President Apologizes for Martial Law Decree

President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea has issued an apology for his declaration of martial law earlier this week, stating that no further order of this nature will be issued. The president, currently under scrutiny, faces the prospect of impeachment in the wake of Tuesday night’s declaration, which the National Assembly promptly reversed. Following the president’s speech, Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), informed reporters that it was no longer feasible for Yoon to perform his regular duties. Han Dong-hoon stated, “His early resignation is inevitable.” In his concise televised address, Yoon expressed, “I am very sorry and would like to sincerely apologise to the people who were shocked.” He further added, “Regarding the declaration of martial law, I will not avoid any legal or political responsibility.” There had been speculation that he would utilize this national address—his initial one since imposing martial law—to step down; however, he chose not to, instead indicating his intention to assign the task of stabilizing the situation to his governing party. Impeachment was also not addressed by him. On Saturday, nearly all members of the PPP exited parliament prior to a vote concerning Yoon’s impeachment. Opposition MPs reacted with jeers and shouts of disapproval, while the speaker reprimanded them for their departure, stating, “This is ignoring the will of the people.” Outside the parliament, a large protest saw crowds chanting, “go back in, join the vote.” Despite some party MPs eventually re-entering the chamber, the proposed bill seemed unlikely to reach the necessary 200 members for passage, a count that would have to incorporate eight members from Yoon’s own party. The voting procedure was suspended until midnight, allowing time for politicians to conclude their boycott. A legislative proposal for a special counsel, aimed at investigating first lady Kim Keon-Hee, was defeated by a margin of two votes. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung expressed his disappointment with President Yoon’s remarks on Friday, asserting that they would merely intensify public feelings of anger and betrayal. Lee further stated his commitment to exert maximum effort to unseat the president, declaring, “The greatest risk facing South Korea right now is the very existence of the president.” The outrage over Yoon’s actions extends beyond the political sphere. Yang Soonsil, 50, a seafood shop proprietor at Namdaemun market in Seoul, the South Korean capital, informed the BBC that she experienced fear and disbelief upon the declaration of martial law. She stated, “I have lost complete trust in him [Yoon] as a president, I don’t think he’s my president any more,” adding, “We need to fight until the end, we can’t let him maintain his position as a president.” Also at the same market, shopper Han Jungmo commented that Yoon’s apology was insufficient. Han Jungmo asserted, “He must either step down voluntarily or be impeached, if he’s not willing to,” and further noted that the president had betrayed the public’s trust. He concluded, “If he continues to insist on being president, then it would be a very hopeless situation because I believe for this president, this martial law is not the only misdeed he has conducted.” South Korea experienced significant political unrest late on Tuesday night following Yoon’s unexpected declaration of martial law. He referenced threats from “anti-state forces” and North Korea. Nevertheless, it quickly became apparent that his action was motivated not by external dangers but by his internal political difficulties. Certain lawmakers bypassed security forces by scaling barricades and fences to assemble in parliament and nullify Yoon’s decree. Yoon rescinded the declaration six hours subsequent to MPs voting against it, yet apprehension persisted that he might try to issue a second decree. Some lawmakers had remained in proximity to the National Assembly to ensure their readiness to invalidate it. Prior to his endeavor to impose military rule on the nation, Yoon had been plagued by low approval ratings, accusations of corruption, and an opposition-controlled legislature that had diminished his authority to that of a lame-duck leader. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Details on our external linking policy are available.