South Korean opposition party alarmed by news of martial law
Dec 06, 2024
Seoul [South Korea], December 6: South Korea's news agency reported on December 6 that opposition Democratic Party lawmakers will hold an emergency meeting this morning and are on standby after receiving multiple reports of a second declaration of martial law .
President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the nation when he suddenly declared martial law late on December 3, but was quickly lifted after the National Assembly voted to invalidate it.
Speaking at a party meeting in the National Assembly on December 6, ruling People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon said President Yoon had ordered the arrest of several prominent politicians during the martial law period on the grounds that they belonged to anti-state forces, according to AFP.
The opposition Democratic Party proposed a vote to impeach Mr Yoon on the evening of December 7 while police opened an investigation into the president on charges of insurrection.
The PPP announced on December 5 that it opposed impeachment, but Mr. Han said that this opinion could change in the face of "clear evidence" that President Yoon intended to arrest political leaders.
"Yesterday I said that I would try not to pass this impeachment to prevent damage to the people and supporters from sudden chaos, but I believe that President Yoon Suk Yeol needs to be suspended from office immediately to protect the Republic of Korea and the people from these newly revealed truths," Han said.
The politician did not call for impeachment and did not elaborate when asked by reporters. "If President Yoon continues to serve as president, there is a great risk that extreme actions similar to the declaration of martial law may be repeated, putting South Korea and its people in great danger," the PPP leader said.
Meanwhile, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said the declaration of martial law was an act of rebellion by the president to maintain or increase his power. "It's an act of rebellion. It's a military-backed coup," Lee said, calling for the president's authority to be removed immediately. Yoon defeated Lee in the presidential election in May 2022.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
