South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. Yoon has defended his martial law decree as an act of governance and says he vows to "fight to the end." South Korea Presidential Office/AP Photo
South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol has characterized his martial law declaration as a legitimate act of governance, rejecting accusations of rebellion.
Speaking Thursday, Yoon vowed to "fight to the end" against efforts to impeach him over his extreme power grab, which sparked nationwide political unrest and protests.
However, in a fresh blow to Yoon, South Korea's Parliament announced on Thursday that six opposition parties have jointly submitted a motion to impeach him over his martial law declaration.
Why Did Yoon Declare Martial Law?
Yoon's martial law decree on Dec. 3 lasted six hours before being overturned by a unanimous vote in the National Assembly.
The move saw armed troops deployed to encircle Parliament and raid the election commission, though no major injuries were reported.
Yoon, a conservative, claimed the measure was aimed at countering the liberal Democratic Party's attempts to undermine his administration through legislative maneuvers, including impeachment motions against top officials.
"I will fight to the end to prevent the forces and criminal groups that have been responsible for paralyzing the country's government and disrupting the nation's constitutional order from threatening the future of the Republic of Korea," Yoon declared.
He dismissed allegations of rebellion, asserting that martial law was an act of governance intended to maintain order, not dismantle parliamentary functions.
What Are the Opposition's Claims?
The largest of South Korea's opposition parties, the Democratic Party has sharply criticized Yoon's actions, labeling his statement "an expression of extreme delusion" and "a declaration of war against the people."
Kim Min-seok, who leads the party's task force on the matter, accused Yoon of inciting unrest among far-right supporters and vowed to push forward with an impeachment motion against him this weekend.
The opposition contends that Yoon's decree violated constitutional provisions, which limit martial law to wartime or emergency scenarios.
Deploying troops to restrict the National Assembly's activities, they argue, constitutes rebellion. Legal experts have echoed these concerns, noting that a rebellion conviction carries the death penalty under South Korean law.
Impeachment requires a two-thirds majority in the 300-member National Assembly, where opposition parties hold 192 seats.
On Thursday six opposition parties joined together and submitted a motion to impeach Yoon.
Earlier impeachment attempts failed due to boycotts by lawmakers from Yoon's People Power Party (PPP). However, divisions within the PPP have deepened since then.
Party chair Han Dong-hun, a vocal critic of Yoon, called the martial law declaration "a confession of rebellion," prompting heated backlash from Yoon loyalists.
What's Next for Yoon?
Investigations into Yoon and his associates are intensifying. On Wednesday, his former defense minister, Kim Yong Hyun, was arrested for alleged involvement in rebellion and abuse of power.
The national police chief and Seoul's police head have also been detained. Meanwhile, the National Assembly passed a bill enabling an independent counsel to investigate Yoon's actions, potentially bypassing presidential approval.
The parties plan to bring the impeachment motion against Yoon to a floor vote on Saturday.
If impeached, Yoon's powers would be suspended pending a constitutional court decision. His removal would trigger a presidential election within 60 days, further escalating South Korea's political turmoil.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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This story was originally published December 12, 2024, 5:53 AM.