South Korea has been thrown into a state of political turmoil since President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law earlier this week. The move, though short-lived, has led to widespread backlash, with lawmakers and citizens expressing grave concerns about the president’s actions.
On Friday, Han, the leader of the ruling People Power Party, made a dramatic reversal in his stance. Previously standing by the president despite growing calls for impeachment, Han now believes that President Yoon must be immediately suspended from duty to safeguard the nation from “grave danger.”
Han’s Reversal and Statement
Han’s change of heart was prompted by recent evidence that President Yoon ordered the arrest of key politicians during the brief martial law period on Tuesday night. Addressing reporters on Friday, Han stated, “In light of these new emerging facts, I have concluded that it is necessary to suspend President Yoon Suk Yeol’s powers promptly to protect South Korea and its people.”
He further warned, “If President Yoon continues to hold the presidency, there is a significant risk that extreme actions like this martial law declaration could be repeated, putting South Korea and its citizens in grave danger.”
Tensions in Parliament
Han revealed that he had been among the first to rush to the parliament to strike down the martial law declaration, despite police resistance outside the building. Since Tuesday evening, some lawmakers have been camping out in the parliamentary building amid fears that Yoon might attempt to reimpose martial law.
Why It Matters
President Yoon’s late-night martial law decree, though lasting only a few hours before being nullified by lawmakers, has caused nationwide outrage. Protesters and opposition figures have been demanding Yoon’s impeachment, and his support within his own party appears to be waning.
Han’s comments on Friday highlight a growing rift within the People Power Party, which has so far criticized Yoon’s actions but stopped short of openly supporting impeachment.
Differentiating Suspension from Impeachment
Jehua Ryu, deputy director of the People Power Party Strategy Planning Headquarters, clarified that Han’s call for suspension does not equate to impeachment. “Suspension is not impeachment. There are various ways to suspend President Yoon’s authority,” Ryu said. He also confirmed that Han was scheduled to meet with Yoon later on Friday afternoon.
Han’s Earlier Stance
Earlier in the week, Han had vowed to prevent Yoon’s impeachment, citing concerns over the potential chaos it could unleash. In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Han criticized the liberal Democratic Party for prioritizing political interests over national stability.
However, Han did not shy away from acknowledging Yoon’s mistakes. He described the martial law decree as “unconstitutional” and said he had requested the president to quit the People Power Party. On Wednesday, Han met with Yoon and told him that the events of Tuesday evening had “left a big scar on Korea and our party.”
Growing Calls for Impeachment
Pressure is mounting on Yoon to resign as lawmakers prepare to vote on a motion to impeach him in the coming days. South Korea’s constitution requires a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat legislature to advance the motion to the Constitutional Court.
The Democratic Party, along with minor opposition parties and independents, controls 192 seats, needing at least eight members of the People Power Party to reach the required majority.
The Road Ahead
As South Korea grapples with the aftermath of this crisis, the political future of President Yoon remains uncertain. Whether through suspension or impeachment, lawmakers are determined to act swiftly to prevent further instability and safeguard the country’s democracy.
