S Korea’s President Yoon vows to ‘fight to the end’
Embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has defended his controversial decision to declare martial law last week, stating it was necessary to safeguard the country’s democracy.
In a surprise televised address on Thursday, Yoon described the move as a legal measure to “prevent the collapse” of democracy and counter what he called the opposition’s “parliamentary dictatorship.”
Despite mounting pressure to resign or face impeachment, Yoon signaled his determination to remain in office. “I will stand firm whether I’m impeached or investigated,” he said. “I will fight to the end.”
The president and his allies are currently under investigation for insurrection charges, with travel bans imposed on several individuals. However, Yoon has denied that his martial law declaration constitutes an act of insurrection, accusing his political rivals of spreading “false incitement” to undermine him.
During his address—the first since his apology on Saturday—Yoon reiterated arguments made on the night martial law was declared, insisting that the opposition posed a danger and that his actions were intended to protect the public and uphold democracy. He also emphasized that he would not evade his “legal and political responsibilities.”
Last weekend, an impeachment attempt by opposition lawmakers failed when members of Yoon’s ruling party boycotted the vote. However, opposition leaders have vowed to hold impeachment votes every Saturday until Yoon is removed from office. Another vote is scheduled for this weekend.
Yoon’s party had hoped to persuade him to step down voluntarily to avoid further political turmoil. Minutes before Yoon’s address, ruling party leader Han Dong Hoon appeared on television, acknowledging that the president would not resign and urging party members to vote for his removal in the upcoming impeachment session.
If South Korea’s parliament passes an impeachment bill, the case will proceed to a constitutional court trial, where two-thirds of the court must affirm the decision for Yoon to be permanently removed from office.
Yoon has been a lame duck president since the opposition won a landslide in the country’s general election in April this year – his government has not been able to pass the laws it wanted and has been reduced instead to vetoing bills the opposition has proposed.
