South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol issued a public apology ahead of the impeachment vote and vowed to face all legal punishment after invoking martial law earlier this week.
advertisementIn a televised speech, the South Korean president bowed to the nation and said he was “very sorry,” just hours before lawmakers were expected to vote on impeachment over the attempt to impose martial law.
CEO Yoon said it was a decision made out of desperation and pledged not to evade responsibility, and pledged to take full legal responsibility.
In an effort to reassure the public hurt by decades of brutal martial law and military dictatorship, Chairman Yoon insisted that there would be no more martial law.
He also announced that he had instructed the People Power Party (PPP) to take all necessary measures and decisions to stabilize the political situation. Their powers include determining his term of office.
The vote on Yoon Seok-yeol’s impeachment is scheduled to take place around 17:00 local time (09:00 CET).
The opposition party currently holds 192 seats in the 300-seat National Assembly, just eight seats short of the two-thirds needed to pass the motion.
The possibility of Rep. Yoon’s impeachment rose significantly after the failed martial law attempt on Tuesday, with lawmakers criticizing him and some calling him a “great danger” to citizens.
Prosecutor General Yoon briefly declared martial law in South Korea this week, saying it was necessary to “eliminate anti-state forces.” He declared martial law and accused South Korea’s opposition Liberty Democratic Party of sympathizing with North Korea.
He reversed his position just six hours after 190 lawmakers forced their way into a closed chamber to vote down the bill.
The opposition party has called for Prosecutor General Yoon’s resignation, denouncing his martial law as “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.”
