President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea faces increasing political isolation as the head of his ruling party publicly supports his impeachment, while the military has declared it will not comply with any orders to reimpose martial law.
In a surprising shift, Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the governing People Power Party (P.P.P.), called for Mr. Yoon's suspension, deeming him unfit to lead after a recent martial law decree sparked national turmoil. This statement raises the chances of the impeachment bill passing in the National Assembly.
Mr. Han, along with opposition lawmakers, warned that Mr. Yoon might attempt to impose martial law again if he remains in office. The defense ministry responded emphatically, stating the military would refuse such orders. “I want to make it clear that it will never happen,” said Lieutenant General Kwak Jong-geun during a live interview.
A broader P.P.P. meeting of 108 lawmakers concluded without consensus on Mr. Yoon’s future. While Mr. Yoon was expected to attend, he did not show up. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik noted he could not ensure the president’s safety amid protests demanding his arrest.
An impeachment vote is scheduled for Saturday evening, requiring at least eight votes from Mr. Yoon’s party for success. If impeached, Yoon would be suspended pending a decision from the Constitutional Court.
The opposition's impeachment proposal cites Mr. Yoon's declaration of martial law as an act of “insurgency” and other constitutional violations. His martial law order, which included banning political activities and deploying troops to the National Assembly, was lifted after just six hours following a repeal vote.
This brief imposition of martial law has provoked widespread outrage in South Korea, highlighting the vulnerability of the country's democracy. Mr. Han, who initially opposed impeachment to avoid further chaos, changed his stance after learning more about Mr. Yoon's intentions post-declaration.
On Friday, Mr. Han expressed concerns that Mr. Yoon's continued presidency might lead to further extreme actions, resulting in a larger crisis for the nation. Reports from a closed-door meeting revealed that Mr. Yoon had instructed counterintelligence to detain key opposition figures, which Mr. Yoon's office denied.
Lieutenant General Kwak confirmed that he disobeyed orders to remove lawmakers from the Assembly during the repeal vote due to legal concerns, despite the risk of punishment. Following the martial law’s collapse, Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun resigned and has been barred from leaving the country.
The Defense Ministry has since suspended three officers, including Lt. Gen. Kwak, due to their involvement in the martial law events. Opposition lawmakers have called for police investigations into Mr. Yoon for potential charges of insurgency, which carry severe penalties if proven.
Since retracting his martial law decree, Mr. Yoon's public visibility has diminished, with approval ratings plummeting to a record low of 13 percent, negatively impacting his party's popularity. An impeachment would enhance the opposition's position but complicate the already fragmented state of Mr. Yoon's party and Mr. Han’s political future.
The relationship between Mr. Yoon and Mr. Han has deteriorated significantly, with recent conflicts over handling allegations involving the first lady contributing to their rift. Once close allies, they have increasingly distanced themselves from each other in public settings.