South Korean president apologises, saying he'll take responsibility for attempt at martial law

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol today publicly apologized for his attempt to impose martial law hours before a parliamentary impeachment vote, acknowledging that the move caused public anxiety. In a brief televised address this morning, Yoon stated that he would not evade legal and political responsibility for the martial law order and pledged not to attempt it again.

Yoon said he would leave it to his political party to chart a course of action for the nation's political turmoil, "including matters related to my term." He stated, "My declaration of martial law was out of desperation. But in the process, it caused anxiety and inconvenience to the public. I am deeply sorry for this and sincerely apologize to those who must have been shocked."

Since taking office in 2022, the conservative Yoon has struggled to advance his agenda in the opposition-controlled parliament and has faced low approval ratings due to scandals involving himself and his wife. In announcing martial law late Tuesday, Yoon called the parliament a "den of criminals" that was hindering national affairs and vowed to purge "shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces."

Parliament is scheduled to vote this afternoon on an opposition-led motion to impeach Yoon, but it is unclear whether the motion will pass the required two-thirds majority. The opposition parties that jointly filed the impeachment motion control 192 of the 300 seats in the legislature, meaning they need at least eight additional votes from Yoon's conservative People Power Party.

This seems more likely after leaders of Yoon's own party yesterday called for his removal, though the party formally remains opposed to impeachment. If Yoon is impeached, his powers would be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election must be held within 60 days to replace him.

The turmoil caused by Yoon's rash and ill-considered actions has paralyzed South Korean politics and alarmed key diplomatic partners, including neighboring Japan and Seoul's main ally, the United States, as one of Asia's strongest democracies faces a political crisis that could lead to the removal of its leader. Special forces surrounded the parliament building late Tuesday, and army helicopters circled overhead, but the troops withdrew after parliament unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to cancel martial law before dawn on Wednesday. This was the first declaration of martial law in South Korea in more than 40 years.

Since then, thousands have taken to the streets of Seoul in protest, waving banners, chanting slogans, and dancing and singing to K-pop songs with lyrics adapted to call for Yoon's resignation. Yesterday, a smaller group of Yoon supporters rallied near parliament, holding signs that read, "We oppose unconstitutional impeachment." Opposition lawmakers have said Yoon's attempt to impose martial law amounted to a self-coup and have drafted the impeachment motion around charges of insurrection.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, told reporters that Yoon's address was "deeply disappointing" and that the only way out was for him to resign immediately or be impeached. Parliament said today it would convene at 5 p.m. local time. It will first vote on a bill to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of abuse of power by Yoon's wife, and then vote on impeaching Yoon.

It is unclear whether members of Yoon's People Power Party will break ranks to vote in favor of impeachment. A minority of 18 lawmakers from the party joined the unanimous vote to cancel martial law, which passed 190-0. However, the party has decided to oppose impeachment. Experts say the People Power Party fears that Yoon's impeachment and possible removal would throw the conservatives into disarray and easily lose to the liberals in a presidential by-election.

Yesterday, Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party who also led the minority that helped cancel martial law, called for Yoon's constitutional powers to be suspended, saying he was unfit for office and might take more extreme actions. But Han is not a lawmaker, and the party's position remains opposed to impeachment. Han said he had received intelligence that, during the brief period of martial law, Yoon had ordered the country's Defense Counterintelligence Command chief to arrest and detain unspecified key political figures on charges of "anti-state activities."

Following Yoon's televised address, Han reiterated his call for him to step down, saying the president was unable to carry out his duties properly. "President Yoon Suk-yeol's early resignation is inevitable," Han told reporters. Hong Jang-won, the first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, later told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing that Yoon had called him after imposing martial law, ordering him to help the Defense Counterintelligence Command detain key political figures.

According to Kim Byung-ki, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting, the political figures targeted included Han Dong-hoon, Lee Jae-myung, and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik. The Ministry of National Defense said it had suspended the commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, Yu In-hyung, who Han claims received orders from Yoon to detain the political figures. The ministry also suspended the commanders of the Capital Defense Command and the Special Operations Command for their roles in implementing martial law.

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is accused of advising Yoon to impose martial law, has been banned from travel and faces a prosecutor's investigation on charges of insurrection. Deputy Defense Minister Kim Sun-ho testified to parliament that it was Kim Yong-hyun who ordered troops to deploy to parliament after Yoon imposed martial law.