Before impeachment vote, South Korean president apologizes for attempt to impose martial law

By Reuters 7 December 2024, 4:14 am

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A shopkeeper watches television screens showing a live broadcast of South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol bowing after the end of his address, at an electronic market in Seoul on December 7, 2024. (Jung Yeon-je / AFP)

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol apologizes for his attempt to impose martial law this week and bows during a televised speech to the nation, only hours head of a planned impeachment vote.

Yoon says he will not seek to avoid legal and political responsibility for his decision, which he says was born of desperation.

The speech is the embattled leader’s first public appearance since he rescinded the martial law order early on Wednesday, just six hours after it was declared and after parliament defied military and police cordons to vote against the decree.

“I am very sorry and would like to sincerely apologize to the people who were shocked,” Yoon says.

“I leave it up to my party to take steps to stabilize the political situation in future, including the issue of my term in office,” he says.

South Korea’s ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon says after Yoon’s address that the president is no longer in a position to carry out public duty and his resignation is now unavoidable.

On Friday Han said Yoon was a danger to the country and needed to be removed from power, increasing the pressure on Yoon to quit even though his People Power Party (PPP) members later reaffirmed a formal opposition to his impeachment.

Lawmakers will vote on the main opposition Democratic Party’s motion to impeach Yoon later on Saturday.