South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol gives a televised speech at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 12, 2024. (South Korean Presidential Office)
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday defended his failed attempt 10 days ago to impose martial law, just as a poll shows most of his country’s citizens favor his impeachment.
Yoon declared martial law on Dec. 3, he said in a televised speech Thursday, to “protect the nation” from the main opposition Democratic Party, a group he called “a monster that destroys the constitutional order of free democracy.”
Yoon survived an impeachment vote Saturday when members of his People Power Party, the ruling conservatives, boycotted a parliamentary vote. Another vote is scheduled this coming Saturday, and the party chair voiced his support Thursday for removing Yoon from office.
Nearly 80% of respondents surveyed Tuesday said they agreed with impeaching Yoon while 20% said they were against removing him from office, according to a poll by the Seoul-based Embrain Public polling agency for South Korean media outlet News1. The results were released Thursday.
The poll consisted of 1,005 South Korean adults and had a margin of error of 3.1%, according to the agency’s filings with the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.
Nearly 70% said Yoon should be immediately arrested and investigated, 13% said a potential arrest should come after an investigation and 10% said an investigation is unnecessary, the results said.
Only 13% of respondents said they believed Yoon should complete his five-year term that began May 10, 2022. Fifty-seven percent said the National Assembly ought to pursue impeachment charges against the president and 20% said he should resign on his own accord.
Yoon declared martial law citing a growing number of political scandals and the Democratic Party’s efforts to impeach his government appointees.
National Assembly lawmakers opposed to the declaration immediately went to parliament to overrule it as special forces soldiers stormed the building to block their progress. Enough lawmakers successfully convened and voted in favor of ending Yoon’s declaration after six hours.
The incident has spurred calls for his impeachment, waves of resignations from government officials and suspensions of high-ranking military officers.
People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon said he would back the impeachment effort after listening to the president’s speech Thursday.
Yoon must be suspended “through impeachment” to “protect the democratic republic,” Han told reporters at a press conference in Seoul.
Yoon loyalists jeered Han at a party meeting after he called Yoon’s televised statement “a confession of rebellion,” according to The Associated Press.
At least 200 votes are required from the 300-member parliament to suspend Yoon’s duties until South Korea’s Constitutional Court determines the validity of his presidency. The People Power Party holds 108 seats in parliament; the Democratic Party and third parties have a combined 192 seats.
Former National Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun resigned Dec. 4, and in a statement said he was wholly “responsible for causing confusion and concern to the public.” He was jailed in Seoul on Sunday.
Kim attempted suicide at the detention facility Tuesday night, shortly before the Seoul Central District Court issued a formal arrest warrant on charges of abuse of power and promoting insurrection, Correction Service commissioner general Shin Yong-hae told lawmakers Wednesday.
