SEOUL (Reuters) – The head of South Korea’s ruling party said on Friday that President Yoon Suk Yeol should be removed from power for the country’s security for attempting to impose martial law, but stopped short of calling on members to vote for impeachment.
Yoon shocked the nation and his ruling People’s Power Party on Tuesday when he announced he was imposing martial law to root out “anti-state forces” and overcome obstructionist political opponents.
He reversed course about six hours later after parliament, including some members of his party, voted against the decree.
Speaking after a party meeting in parliament on Friday, party leader Han Dong-hoon said Yoon had ordered the arrest of prominent politicians for being among those “anti-state forces” during martial law.
The main opposition Democratic Party has scheduled an impeachment vote for Saturday night, and national police have launched an investigation into Yoon based on sedition claims made by the opposition party and activists.
On Thursday, the ruling party said it opposed impeachment, but Han suggested that position could change in light of “credible evidence” that Yoon intended to arrest and detain political leaders in Gwacheon, south of Seoul.
“I said yesterday that I would try not to vote on this impeachment to prevent harm to people and supporters caused by unprepared chaos, but I believe that the immediate suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol is necessary to protect the Republic of Korea and its people in light of the newly revealed facts,” he said. is Han.
He did not specifically call for impeachment, nor did he respond to reporters when asked for clarification.
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said the declaration of martial law was a rebellion launched by the president to maintain or expand his power.
“It’s an act of rebellion,” he said. “It’s a pro-military coup.”
