The South Korean opposition has called for the indictment of President Yoon Suk-yeol after the proclamation of martial law overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, now replaced, has resigned. If impeached, Yoon could be tried for high treason.
The South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeolreplaced his defense minister, Kim Yonghyunwhile the opposition parties are calling for the indictment of the two men due to the short-lived martial law canceled by parliament on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.
Minister Kim offered to resign and apologized for causing disruption and concern among the public, saying the troops had acted on his instructions and that all responsibility lay with him.
On Thursday, Mr. Yoon’s office said he had decided to replace Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun with Choi Byung Hyuka retired general who is South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Deputy Minister of Defense Kim Seon Ho will act in the interim until Choi takes office following a parliamentary hearing. This hearing is a formality, because the president has the power to appoint ministers other than the prime minister without approval from lawmakers.
The joint motion to impeach the president was sent to the National Assembly to be voted on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, in protest against the president, a large crowd gathered in front of parliament for a candlelight vigil.
Mr. Yoon, who risks being prosecuted for high treason, has not appeared in public since the televised announcement of the lifting of martial law.
Opposition lawmakers already voted Thursday to indict South Korea’s audit commission chairman and three high-ranking prosecutors.
Prosecutors were accused of diluting an investigation involving Yoon’s wife that was linked to alleged stock price manipulation.
Reactions from neighboring countries
The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yideclined to comment, saying it was an “internal matter” of Seoul.
In contrast, the Japanese government said it was closely monitoring the situation in Seoul and was very concerned.
The secretary general of the cabinet, Hayashi Yoshimasatold reporters Thursday that Japan and South Korea are important neighbors who must cooperate to face the many challenges in international society.
“The government will take appropriate decisions regarding the overall bilateral relations between the two countries“added Mr. Hayashi.
As Mr. Yoon’s statement sparked concerns about South Korea’s democratic status, authorities have sought to tamp down the backlash.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lee Jaewoong, said the ministry had sent diplomatic notes to foreign missions, emphasizing that martial law had been lifted through democratic procedures and that travel advisories did not need to be changed, since public security remained stable .
ADVERTISEMENTYoon’s declaration of martial law came hours after his summit with Kyrgyzstan’s president, Sadyr Japarovwho went to Seoul on an official visit. The Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristerssonreportedly canceled his planned visit to South Korea this week.
Is impeachment possible before the end of the week?
Removing the president would require the support of two-thirds of the National Assembly, or 200 members out of 300.
The opposition parties together have 192 seats, with the support of 18 lawmakers belonging to an anti-Yoon faction of his party. However, this faction said it would oppose impeachment, although it called Yoon Suk-yeol’s statement “unconstitutional.”
If Yoon is indicted, he will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office.
ADVERTISEMENTThe impeachment motion against Mr. Yoon says he failed to comply with the constitutional requirement that martial law be considered only in times of war or comparable serious crisis.
She claims thathe attempted a “self-coup” by mobilizing the army and that the suspension of the activities of political parties and the deployment of troops to seal the National Assembly amounts to a rebellion.
However, since the “Korean War” never officially ended, Mr. Yoon could claim that the country is actually in wartime.
High treason is punishable by death under South Korean law.
ADVERTISEMENTThe country has retained the death penalty, but has not carried out any executions since 1997.
