The head of South Korea's ruling People Power Party has announced support for suspending the duties of President Yoon Suk Yeol – a stunning, last-minute move to abandon his fellow conservative leader that analysts say greatly increases the chances of Yoon's impeachment over his failed attempt at martial law.
At a party meeting on Friday, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon called for the "swift suspension" of Yoon's duties, citing "newly revealed facts" that suggest Yoon had attempted to use intelligence agencies to arrest prominent lawmakers, accusing them of being "anti-state forces."
"President Yoon has not acknowledged that the illegal martial law was a mistake. If President Yoon continues to carry out his duties, there is a significant risk of a recurrence of such extreme actions … which could pose a great threat to the Republic of Korea and its people," Han said, using South Korea’s formal name.
Yoon, frustrated for months by what he saw as opposition attempts to obstruct his governance, declared martial law late Tuesday, claiming it was necessary to "crush anti-state forces" and "protect constitutional order."
Within hours, South Korean lawmakers overturned the decree, after fighting their way through police and military personnel who had been sent to the National Assembly Building.
The opposition, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, plans to vote on Yoon's impeachment late Saturday.
Tensions building
Adding to the urgency, South Korean media on Friday reported unconfirmed rumors that a second attempt at martial law was being planned, though the reports were quickly denied by the military.
In a live-streamed interview on YouTube, Kwak Jong-geun, the head of South Korea’s special warfare command, said he would not enforce a second martial law decree, should he receive such orders.
Kwak also said that during the first short-lived martial law, he refused orders to clear lawmakers from the National Assembly, viewing such a move as illegal.
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense later suspended Kwak and two other senior military commanders who were involved in the first martial law declaration, according to the Yonhap news agency.
At the country’s legislature, tensions were briefly high on Friday, amid rumors that Yoon was set to visit and meet with lawmakers in an attempt to find a path forward that does not involve impeachment.
In preparation for Yoon’s rumored visit, hundreds of opposition lawmakers and officials gathered at the entrance, warning Yoon to stay away.
Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Min-seok told a public gathering that his party had informed the presidential office that Yoon would not be allowed to enter the grounds. Yoon’s office later said that he had no plans to visit.
PPP leader a key figure
South Korean police on Thursday announced they have opened an investigation into charges that Yoon and other senior leaders committed treason related to the events of Tuesday night.
On Friday, South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo reported that Yoon ordered South Korea’s spy agency to arrest Han, the conservative party leader who had once been a close ally and colleague of Yoon during their earlier careers as prosecutors.
Han, who had previously served as Yoon’s justice minister, has played a key role in the political drama unfolding this week.
Immediately after Yoon declared martial law, Han opposed the effort, and 18 members of his conservative party voted to overturn the decree.
However, on Thursday Han and his fellow conservatives began to rally around Yoon, saying they would oppose the impeachment, which they claimed would paralyze the country.
Han changed his stance again on Friday, saying he had obtained “credible evidence” that Yoon was trying to arrest senior lawmakers.
"I firmly believe that now is the time to think solely about the nation and its citizens,” he said.
Constitutional court uncertainty
To succeed, at least eight members of the PPP must support the impeachment motion. So far, only two conservatives have publicly said they will vote to impeach Yoon.
But after Han’s reversal, many observers say it now appears likely that the impeachment will pass.
If Yoon is impeached, he would be immediately suspended while the Constitutional Court deliberates on whether to remove him from office, a process that could take weeks or even months.
