‘Political suicide’: Yoon on edge as martial law fallout claims first scalp

Seoul: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is fighting for his political survival after his botched bid to impose martial law, as his ruling party leadership signalled they intended to oppose an impeachment motion while pushing for the president to step down.

The political fallout continued on Thursday, with Yoon accepting the resignation of Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and senior party officials, including the interior minister, seeking to blame Kim for suggesting the president declare martial law.

Kim Yong-hyun has resigned from the role of defence minister.Credit: AP

In an effort to shore up the ruling People Power Party’s hold on power, leader Han Dong-hoon has rallied his members to vote against the opposition’s proposed impeachment motion, which could be put to the parliament this weekend. But Han has also called for the president to leave the party.

MPs from the main opposition Democratic Party planned to put up a vote in parliament to impeach Yoon on Saturday, a party spokesperson told reporters.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night.Credit: AP

“The Yoon Suk Yeol regime’s declaration of emergency martial law caused great confusion and fear among our people,” Democratic Party MP Kim Seung-won told the National Assembly in an early morning session.

Yoon shocked the nation by declaring martial law in a late-night televised address on Tuesday, in what appeared to be an extreme measure to break through a political impasse in the National Assembly, where the opposition parties hold a majority.

The move plunged the country into crisis as South Korean soldiers attempted to force their way into the assembly, where MPs voted unanimously to reject the president’s order, as thousands of people took to the street to protest against it.

Yoon withdrew the declaration within hours after it was rejected by the parliament, but his miscalculation has plunged the country into its worst political crisis in decades.

For the impeachment motion to be successful, the opposition parties need to secure the votes of two-thirds of the National Assembly, meaning they will need at least eight votes from the 108 ruling party members. If successful, the motion will need the approval of a constitutional court to strip the president of power. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would assume presidential responsibilities in the interim.

Professor Wongi Choe from the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul said the president was increasingly isolated, and regardless of whether the impeachment was successful, the prospect of an early election next year appeared likely.

National Assembly staff and troops clashed inside the building on Wednesday. Credit: AP

“He committed political suicide. He has lost all of his authority. The best scenario the ruling party is envisioning is that the president should resign on his own,” Choe said. “We are entering a period of political turmoil with major disruptions. It is a really critical time.”

A number of labour unions have gone on strike and are now calling for Yoon’s resignation as part of their demands, and social interest groups are mobilising their campaigns against the president.

Yoon has remained silent since his decision to rescind the martial law declaration. His presidential office confirmed on Thursday that South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Choi Byung-hyuk, would be nominated as the new defence minister.

US officials said they were caught completely off guard by Yoon’s martial law declaration, which Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said was “badly misjudged”.

With Reuters

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