SEOUL, Dec 12 — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol today vowed to fight “until the very last minute” in a defiant address defending his shock decision last week to declare martial law and deploy troops to the country’s parliament.
The South Korean leader is banned from foreign travel as part of an “insurrection” probe into his inner circle over the dramatic events of December 3-4 that stunned South Korea’s allies.
A probe into last week’s turmoil has swiftly gathered pace, with police yesterday attempting to raid Yoon’s office to investigate his brief imposition of martial law.
Facing an impeachment vote in parliament on Saturday, Yoon vowed to “fight with the people until the very last minute”.
“I apologize again to the people who must have been surprised and anxious due to the martial law,” he said in a televised address.
“Please trust me in my warm loyalty to the people.”
Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Seung-lae told AFP Saturday’s impeachment vote would take place around 5pm (0800 GMT/4pm Malaysian time).
The motion needs to win support from eight members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to secure the necessary two-thirds majority.
Today, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon urged party members to attend the meeting and vote “according to their conviction and conscience”.
Police yesterday were blocked from entering the presidential office by security guards, later saying they had been given “very limited” documents by Yoon’s staff.
The main opposition Democratic Party warned it would file legal complaints for insurrection against the presidential staff and security if they continued to obstruct law enforcement.
People watch a TV screen, broadcasting South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivering an address to the nation, at a railway station in Seoul December 12, 2024. — Reuters pic
Escalating investigations
South Korea’s capital has been rocked by daily protests since last week, with thousands gathering to demand Yoon’s resignation.
And Yoon’s inner circle has come under intense scrutiny for their alleged role in last week’s martial law declaration.
Prison authorities yesterday said former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun tried to kill himself shortly before his formal arrest the previous day.
Kim, who is accused of urging Yoon to impose martial law, was first detained Sunday, and later formally arrested on charges of “engaging in critical duties during an insurrection” and “abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights”.
The justice ministry and a prison official said he was in good health yesterday.
The former interior minister and the general in charge of the martial law operation are also barred from foreign travel.
Two senior police officials were also arrested early yesterday.
The PPP has said that pending Yoon’s resignation, he has agreed to hand power to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and party chief Han.
But Yoon tiday remained defiant, accusing the opposition of having pushed the country into a “national crisis”.
“The National Assembly, dominated by the large opposition party, has become a monster that destroys the constitutional order of liberal democracy,” Yoon said in a televised address.
But, he said, he would “not avoid legal and political responsibility regarding the declaration of martial law”.
Yoon had said his declaration of martial law was intended, in part, to safeguard South Korea “from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements”. — AFP
