The South Korean president’s declaration of martial law came as a surprise to South Koreans and the rest of the world
Seoul, Dec 5 — South Korean opposition lawmakers said on Thursday they would vote this weekend to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol for his botched attempt to impose martial law, and police said they were investigating claims of treason against him and top ministers.
Yoon’s declaration of martial law late on Tuesday sought to consolidate power, ban political activity and censor the media.
It sparked outrage in the streets and concern among South Korea’s international allies. The defence minister, who recommended the move, has resigned.
People protest during a candlelight vigil to condemn South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s surprise declarations of the failed martial law and to call for his resignation in Seoul, South Korea, December 5, 2024.
Lawmakers of the opposition Democratic Party planned to seek a vote in parliament to impeach Yoon on Saturday, a party spokesperson told reporters.
“The Yoon Suk Yeol regime’s declaration of emergency martial law caused great confusion and fear among our people,” Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won told the National Assembly earlier.
Yoon’s ruling People Power Party is divided over the crisis but said it would oppose impeachment, with the party in turmoil and two years left in Yoon’s five-year term.
The Democratic Party needs at least eight of the 108 ruling-party lawmakers to back the bill for it to pass with a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament.
Fighting for his political future, Yoon accepted the resignation of Defence Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, on Thursday and nominated his ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Choi Byung-hyuk, as a replacement.
Kim had recommended Yoon declare martial law on Tuesday, according to the interior minister, a senior military official and the opposition’s filing to impeach Yoon.
Kim also ordered the deployment of troops to the parliament, Vice-Defence Minister Kim Seon-ho said, adding that he was unaware of the martial law order until Yoon declared it.
“I have fundamentally opposed the mobilisation of military forces under martial law and have expressed negative opinions about it,” Kim Seon-ho told a parliament hearing on Thursday, apologising and taking responsibility for failing to prevent it.
South Korea’s army chief has also offered to resign, the Yonhap news agency said.
The chief of investigations for the national police confirmed to a parliamentary hearing that the force was investigating accusations of treason and other related crimes over the declaration of martial law. The complaint was filed by an opposition party and activists.
The probe includes Yoon, his interior minister, and the ousted defence minister.
Yonhap news agency reported that the prosecution and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials had also received complaints and were considering investigations.
The former defence minister faces a travel ban while the investigations progress, broadcaster YTN said.
